Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Monday commuted the death sentence of a convict, Russel Miah, to life term imprisonment and fined Tk 20,000 in a case filed over the murder of Barishal University (BU) student Saoda Begum in 2013.
The HC bench of Justice Krishna Debnath and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin delivered the verdict after holding hearing and examining the appeal and death reference of the case. Saoda, an 18-year-old first-year student of the university, died after being attacked by Russel Miah, a former student of the university, on September 5, 2013.
Mother of Saoda, Shahida Begum, filed the murder case with Kotwali Police Station in Barishal city, accusing Russel in connection with the incident.
Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain and advocate Shishir Mohammad Manir appeared in the court on behalf of Russel Miah, while deputy attorney general Shahin Ahmed Khan represented the state.
Mr Shishir Manir said, “The HC commuted Russel Miah’s sentence considering few points, he was only 20 years old during the incident, he was in a mental depression and he didn’t have any involvement with any other crime before this incident.”
The lawyer said that the court also considered his staying in a condemned cell for the last five years since his arrest.
Following the incident, the university authorities expelled Russell who was involved romantically with Saoda.
On June 1, 2015, the district and sessions judge’s court of Barishal sentenced Russel to death and fined Tk 10,000 for killing Saoda.
Russel then filed an appeal with the HC challenging the trial court’s verdict. Besides, an application (death reference) for approval of the death sentence of the trial court also came to the HC.
After holding hearing on the appeal petition and the death reference, the HC on Monday delivered the verdict.
Russel Miah, son of Harun Miah of Pathorghata upazila under Barguna district, was a 2nd year student of the Management department of the Barishal University during the incident that had happened in September, 2013.
He stabbed Saoda with a sharp weapon on September 5, 2013 at one stage of the altercation as she did not agree to continue their love affair, according to the case documents.
The locals rescued the girl in a critical condition and admitted her to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Later, when her physical condition deteriorated, she was sent to Dhaka for better treatment. Saoda died in Dhaka on the same day in the afternoon.
One week after the incident, police arrested Russel Miah from Kalsidighi area of Chattogram Port Police Station.
