RU Prof Rezaul murder: 2 JMB militants given death, 3 awarded life

Two militants of banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been sentenced to death and three others awarded life for killing Rajshahi University Prof AFM Rezaul Karim Siddiquee back in 2016.

Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Shirin Kabita Akhter handed death penalty to Rajshahi University’s English department student Shariful Islam, a fugitive, and Polytechnic Institute student Maskawath Hasan Sakib alias Abdullah.

Other accused, the university’s crop science department student Rahmatullah, Abdus Sattar and Sattar's son Ripon were handed down life imprisonment.

In April 2016, Prof Rezaul, a teacher of English department at the university, was hacked to death in Shalbagan area while he was on his way to the university.

Shariful Islam, a student of RU English department student, was found responsible for planning the murder, according to the charge sheet.

Read more: RU Prof Rezaul murder: Arrest of fugitive sought after verdict

On November 3, 2016, Detective Branch of police pressed charges against eight JMB members for killing the professor as part of their countrywide killings of freethinkers, bloggers and believers of different faiths. 

Three out of the eight accused were killed in “police raids” and “gunfights”.

Khairul Islam Payal alias Badhan was killed during the raid on July 1, 2016 at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, and two others -- Nazrul Islam alias Bike Hasan and Tareque Hasan Milu alias Osman, were killed in “crossfire” in Rajshahi and Bogra.

Badhan, Nazrul, Osman and Sakib directly took part in the killing while Shariful and four others planned and abetted them.

The professor’s son Riasat Imtiaz filed a murder case with Boalia Police Station accusing unnamed persons.