Khulna court delivers verdict in three days

A Khulna court yesterday delivered a verdict in a drug case within just three working days. A record for the country.

Khulna Metropolitan Magistrate Md Atikus Samad announced the judgment in presence of the accused in the courtroom.

Md Samrat, 26, the lone accused in the case, was sentenced to one year of imprisonment for possessing drugs -- six months for having cannabis and another six months for possessing yaba tablets.

Samrat, of Khulna city's Labanchara area, was also fined Tk 10,000. If he fails to pay, he will have to serve one month more in jail.

Shahara Irani Pia, assistant public prosecutor, told The Daily Star that if the drug cases were disposed of quickly, the backlog of cases will be reduced to some extent.

Saiful Islam, president of Khulna Lawyers Association, said the delivery of the judgement in three working days made history.

According to court sources, police arrested Samrat on December 13 last year in Labanchara Police Station area with 30 grams of cannabis and six yaba pills.

A case was filed against him with the police station under the Narcotics Control Act.

SI Nasiruddin, investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet against Samrat on February 9 this year.

On October 22, charges were framed against Samrat, and six witnesses testified the next day.

Arguments from the prosecution and defence concluded on Sunday.