Murderer of mother, son executed

The authorities of Jessore Central Jail executed the death penalty of a double murder case accused early hours yesterday.
The accused, ABM Nazmus Shakib alias Ashik, 36, was hanged at 12-01am till his death amid presence of his parents and officials, the prison sources said.
According to prosecution story, Ashik was son of Didarul Islam of Kalikapur village under Kaliganj upazila, Satkhira.
On the night of September 17, 2000, he murdered Arjina Begum and her son Milon at the victims' house at Banargati under Sonadanga Police Station of Khulna city.
Ashik used to stay in the house as a tutor. He killed Arjina and Milon soon after they made out that Ashik was leading a gang of three to rob the house that night.
On September 18, police lodged a case with Sonadanga Police Station accusing three persons -- Nazmus Shakib Ashik, Rafiqul Islam, and Mushi Nazimuddin -- of the killing.
Khulna District and Sessions Judge awarded death sentence to Ashik and Rafiqul, now absconding, in 2003 and acquitted Nazimuddin as his guilt was not proved beyond doubt.
In 2005, the High Court rejected an appeal petition for commuting the death sentence. In 2007, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the verdict of the death penalty. The president of Bangladesh also rejected the appeal petition of Ashik for clemency.
Ashik's parents, DIG of Prisons (Khulna and Barisal) AKM Fazlul Huq, Jessore Civil Surgeon Tarun Kumar Sikder, Abu Hasan Siddique, and the Jessore Central Jail superintendent were present when Ashik was hanged.
His body was handed over to his parents at 10:00am yesterday following autopsy.