N'Ganj 7-Murder: Prosecution seeks death penalty for all accused

The prosecution yesterday sought the capital punishment for all of them accused of abduction and murders of seven people in Narayanganj in April 2014.

While placing closing arguments, Wajed Ali Khokon, public prosecutor of the Narayanganj District Judge's Court, said the prosecution team proved the charges brought against the accused “beyond any reasonable doubt”.

The defence completed placing arguments for 15 of the 35 accused before Judge Syed Enayet Hossain adjourned the case proceedings until today.

Seven people, including the then Narayanganj city corporation panel mayor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarkar, were abducted from Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road on April 27, 2014. Their bodies were found floating in the Shitalakkhya river a few days later.

Nazrul's father-in-law Shahidul Islam alleged that Rapid Action Battalion personnel abducted and killed Nazrul in exchange for Tk 6 crore from the then ward councillor Nur Hossain.

The District and Sessions Judge's Court of Naryanganj on February 8 this year framed charges against the 35, including Nur Hossain and three sacked Rab officials, in two cases filed over the sensational murders. Twelve of the accused, who are still on the run, are being tried in absentia.

Yesterday, Wajed Ali Khokon, in the presence of 23 accused including Nur Hossain and dismissed Rab officials Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad, Maj Arif Hossain and Lt Commander MM Rana, placed arguments for around four hours from 9:00am.

The defence counsels then placed their arguments.

Later, Khokon told reporters that the prosecution lawyers were able to prove the charges of abduction, murder and hiding bodies “beyond reasonable doubts” and that was why they sought death sentences of the accused.

As many as 107 witnesses gave testimonies against the accused who pleaded not guilty at the court.