Three to die for killing N'ganj garment worker after gang rape

A Narayanganj court yesterday sentenced three people to death for killing a garment worker after gang rape 10 years ago.

The court also fined them Tk 1 lakh each and asked the authorities concerned to give the money to the victim's family.

The convicts -- Nasir Uddin Bitol, 40, Safun, 34, and Khokan Miah, 32 -- were present at the court when Judge Md Jewel Rana of Narayanganj Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal pronounced the verdict.

However, four other accused in the case were acquitted. They are Saleh Ahmed Salat, 38, Hasan Kabir, 54, Abdul Aziz, 39, and Mohammad Mizan, 35.

Special Public Prosecutor Rakibuddin Ahmed Rakib said the convicts abducted garment worker Asma Akhter on March 12, 2008, from in front of Sarbat Bari in Kushiara Bhadrasan of Bandar upazila on her way home from work and raped her. 

They later killed her and buried the body. The body was recovered from a bush two days later.

Asma's father filed a case with Bandar Police Station.

On June 11, 2008, Khokan gave confessional statement to the court under section 164 and mentioned the names of other accomplices. 

The court took deposition of 14 witnesses out of 24 and pronounced the verdict. 

Asma's elder brother Mohammad Masud said they expected all the seven accused be given death sentence. 

During the case proceedings, they received threats several times, he said, adding that they feel insecure now as four of the accused have been acquitted. He said they would file an appeal with the High Court.

Defence lawyer Sultanuzzaman said they are not satisfied with the verdict and they would file an appeal with the High Court against the verdict.