Two Sentenced to Life for Faridpur Auto-Rickshaw Driver’s Murder

A court in Faridpur has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the murder of auto-rickshaw driver Naim Sheikh in a case linked to an alleged attempt to steal his vehicle.

Faridpur District and Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar Dutta delivered the verdict on Tuesday. The two convicted men, Asmat Sheikh and Sagar Molla, were present in court when the judgement was announced. A third accused, Ashik Sheikh, is being tried separately by a juvenile court because of his age.

According to court sources, Naim Sheikh was killed on 21 April 2022 allegedly during an attempt to steal his battery-powered auto-rickshaw. The prosecution said the victim was strangled with a towel wrapped around his neck. His body was subsequently buried in an effort to conceal the crime.

The incident led to a murder case being filed at Faridpur Kotwali Police Station the following day, 22 April, by the victim’s brother, Rashed Sheikh. Asmat Sheikh, Sagar Molla and Ashik Sheikh were named as accused in the case.

Police investigated the allegations and, after completing the inquiry, submitted a charge sheet to the court on 15 May 2022. The case then proceeded through the judicial process, with the court hearing witness testimony and examining the evidence presented by the prosecution. Both sides were given an opportunity to present their arguments before the court reached its decision.

Following the completion of the proceedings, the judge found the charges against Asmat Sheikh and Sagar Molla proven and sentenced both to life imprisonment. Their presence in court during the announcement of the verdict brought the case to a significant judicial stage, although proceedings against the third accused remain ongoing.

Faridpur District and Sessions Court Public Prosecutor Advocate Md Azizur Rahman said the prosecution had been able to establish the allegations against the two accused through the evidence and testimony presented before the court. He said the third accused was being tried by a juvenile court because of his age.

The prosecutor described the verdict as an important step towards securing justice for the victim and his family. He also expressed the view that the punishment could send a clear message against violent crime and help deter similar offences in the future.

The case highlights the risks faced by auto-rickshaw drivers, who can sometimes become targets of robbery and violence while carrying out their daily work. For families of victims, however, the consequences of such crimes extend far beyond the courtroom, leaving them to cope with the loss of a family member while waiting for the legal process to reach its conclusion.

With the life sentences handed down to the two adult accused, the main trial has reached a verdict against them. The legal proceedings involving the third accused will continue separately before the juvenile court.