Shahen Shah

A Rajshahi court yesterday sentenced nine people to death for murdering Chhatra League leader Shahen Shah more than eight years ago.

Metropolitan Sessions Judge OHM Ilias Hossain also handed life imprisonment to 22 other accused in the case, public prosecutor of the court Md Musabbirul Islam said.

All the convicts were present in the court when the judge announced the verdict, he said.

Among those given the capital punishment are: Md Munsur Rahman, a former ward councillor of Rajshahi City Corporation and city unit BNP member; Awami League leaders Hasanuzzaman Himel, former joint secretary of an AL ward unit, and Tawfiqul Islam Chand, former joint secretary of Rajpara thana AL.

The six others sentenced to death are Md Mohosin, Md Sairul, Rajab, Biplob, Md Momin and Md Ariful Islam.

All were fined Tk 1 lakh each while those sentenced to life terms were fined Tk 50,000 each.

The family of the victim would get the fines paid by the convicts, according to the verdict.

The victim -- Shahen Shah of Guripara area in Rajshahi city -- was a former general secretary of Rajshahi Court College unit of Chhatra League and an apprentice lawyer.

According to the public prosecutor, on August 28, 2013, the convicts stopped Shahen Shah's motorcycle in Guripara area and mercilessly hacked the victim, leaving him fatally injured.

Shahen Shah was declared dead after being taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Quoting the first information report (FIR) and charge sheet of the murder case, the public prosecutor said the killing took place due to enmity between Md Munsur Rahman and Shahen Shah's brother Rajab Ali.

An AL leader, Rajab Ali is now the councillor of ward-1 of RCC and  also a panel mayor.

During the 2013 RCC polls, Rajab and Munsur were rival ward councillor candidates and the latter won a third term.

According to the case documents, Shahen Shah filed a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that Munsur violated the electoral code of conduct.

On August 27, 2013, Munsur and his supporters attacked and vandalised Rajab Ali's home and private chamber.

Unable to find Rajab and his brothers, the attackers also openly announced that they would be killed wherever found.

The murder occurred the next day.

Nahid Akter, another brother of Shahen Shah, filed the murder case with Rajpara Police Station accusing 29 people and 30 unnamed ones.

Police later charge-sheeted 31 people in the case, which was transferred to a speedy trial tribunal and later sent to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in December 2016.