Staff Reporter :Two courts in Sylhet and Khulna on Sunday awarded death penalty to six persons over the murder of teenage boys Rajon and Rakib, who were killed in barbaric way at both places sparking outcry throughout the country.The Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Sylhet sentenced four persons to death in connection with the sensational murder of 13-year-old Samiul Alam Rajon while the Khulna Metropolitan Session Judge’s Court awarded death to two others over the killing of 12-year- old boy Rakib.Earlier, after completing the trail of Rajon’s killers on October 27, the Sylhet Sessions Judge’s Court fixed November 8 for the verdict. On the other hand, Khulna Sessions Judges Court also fixed Sunday to give its judgment after finishing the trial of Rakib murder on November 1.In Sylhet, the four death-row convicts are: Kamrul Islam, Choukidar Sadik Ahmed Moyna alias Baro Moyna, Taj Uddin Ahmed alias Badal and Zakir Hossain alias Pavel alias Raju. Of them, Pavel is on the run.Nur Ahmed alias Nuru Mia, who made the video of torturing Rajon, was sentenced to life term imprisonment. The court also gave life imprisonment to one person, different jail terms to five others and acquitted three as allegations brought against them were not proved. Expressing satisfaction over the verdict, Shaikh Azizur Rahman, father of slain Rajon, expressed gratitude to the prime minister, the home minister, lawyers and other concerned people for getting justice with passing the verdict.In Khulna, the two death row convicts are: M Omar Sharif and Mintu Khan.The court also acquitted Beauty Begum as the allegation brought against her could not be proved.After hearing the judgment, Rakib’s mother became unconscious. “The departed soul of Rakib will get peace when the verdict will be executed,” said Rakib’s father Nur Alam Hawlader.Our Sylhet Correspondent adds: Sessions Judge Akbar Hossain Mridha passed the order in presence of 11 accused out of 13 as two of them are on the run.Ali Haider alias Ali, Dulal Ahmed, brothers of prime accused Kamrul Islam, Muhidul Islam Muhit and Shamim Ahmed were given seven years imprisonment while another accused Ayaj Ali was sentenced to jail for one year. Besides, Moyna and Dulal were awarded seven years imprisonment.The court acquitted Firoz Ali, Ruhul Amin and Ajmat Ullah.The court recorded testimonies of 36 witnesses out of 38 by hearing fresh depositions of 11 witnesses upon a petition of the prime accused Kamrul Islam.Defense lawyer Advocate Habibur Rahman Habib said that they will file appeal against the verdict with the apex court at the quickest possible time.While public prosecutor of Sylhet Misbah Uddin Siraj said, “The killing of Rajon is a tragic incident. The verdict in the Rajon murder case was delivered after four months and one day which sets an example to protect the rights of children.”On July 8, Rajon was beaten to death by Kamrul and his accomplices in Kumargaon Bus Stand area of Sylhet Sadar on charges of theft.Investigation Officer (IO) of the case, Inspector Suranjit Talukder, submitted a charge sheet before the court accusing 13 persons, including the prime accused Kamrul Islam. The trial in the case started on September 22 as the court indicted 13 people on charges of beating Rajon to death.Kamrul, who fled to Saudi Arabia soon after the brutal killing, was brought back from Saudi Arabia on October 15.Our Khulna Correspondent adds: Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court acting Judge Dilruba Sultana gave this verdict at around 12.50pm when the accused were produced before the court in the morning.On November 1, a Khulna court had fixed November 8 to pass the judgment on the much-talked about Rakib murder case.A total of 38 prosecution witnesses, out of 40 of the murder case, were placed for arguments in the Rakib murder case that began from October 11 in the presence of 3 accused.On August 3, Rakib, who used to work at a motorcycle garage at Tutpara Central Road in Khulna city, was tortured to death allegedly by his former employer over quitting job. On August 4, Nur Alam Hawladar, victim’s father, filed a case with Khulna Sadar Police Station against three people — M Omar Sharif, Mintu and Beauty Begum — after the brutal killing.On August 25, Sub-Inspector Mostafa Ahmed, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted charge sheet against the three accused. The metropolitan magistrate had accepted the charge-sheet and immediately transferred the case to the Khulna Metropolitan and Sessions Judge court.On October 5, the charge on the Rakib murder case was framed.On October 28, the allegation was read out in the presence of the accused, but the accused of the murder case had claimed themselves innocent. “It is the first ever judgment in the history of Bangladesh as the trial has been completed within three months and five days only,” said Prosecution Lawyer Sultana Rahman Shilpi in her reaction about the verdict.Expressing her satisfaction over the judgment, Shilpi said the verdict would bring more confidence of the people on the judicial system of the country. “The trial has proved that the criminals would not go away after committing the crime,” said another prosecution lawyer Advocate Mominul Islam also a coordinator of Manobadikar Bastabayan Sangstha of Khulna branch.On August 3, 2015, a 12-year-old boy Rakib, son of Nur Alam Hawlader of Tutpara Central Road area, was brutally tortured to death by pumping air from a compressor into his abdomen through his anus. Rakib was working at a motorcycle garage in Tutpara graveyard area of the Khulna Metropolitan city.
