Two sentenced to death for killing one in Gopalganj

A speedy trial tribunal in Dhaka yesterday sentenced two persons to death for killing a businessman in Gopalganj on December 6 in 2002.

Judge Sheikh Jahangir Hussain of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 gave death penalty to two people for killing a 32-year-old Shah Alam in Gopalganj.

The convicts are Mehedi Hassan Howlader and Parimal Majumder. Parimal was present in the court while Mehedi was tried in absentia.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 17 out of 41 prosecution witnesses.

The punishment of the fugitive will be effective from the date of his surrender or arrest and the convicts can appeal to the High Court against the verdict in 30 days, the judgement said.

In the case filed with Kotalipara Police Station, it was alleged that the accused chopped businessman Shah Alam to death in front of Habib Traders under Kotalipara Upazila in Gopalganj district on December 6, 2002 over a previous enmity.

Victim's brother-in-law Sheikh Habibur Rahman filed a murder case accusing Mehedi and two others on December 13 the same year.

Police pressed charges against four persons on April 28 last year and the court framed charges against them on February 25 this year.

The trial of the two accused Aqramuzzaman and Mohammad Masud was earlier stayed on an order of the High Court.

Special Public Prosecutor Moin Uddin appeared for the state while advocate Abdul Hye for the accused.