10 to die for murder of M’singh pharmacy owner

A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced 10 people to death for killing pharmacy owner Mazharul Islam Paltan in Mymensingh’s Nandail 12 years ago.

Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamruzzaman of Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 in Dhaka announced the judgement.

The court also acquitted seven accused from the charges, as their involvement in the crime was not proved.

Of the 10 convicts, Eklash Uddin, Abul Kashem Fakir, Kabir Miah, Abul Kashem, Abul Kalam Azad, Chandan, Shukkur Ali and Badal Miah are behind bars, while Faruk Miah and Ruma Akhter are absconding.

According to case documents, drug store owner Mazharul Islam Paltan was killed inside his shop at Shialdhara Bazar in Mymensingh at some point between February 28 and March 1, 2007.

Beauty Akhter, younger sister of Paltan, filed a murder case against unknown persons  with Nandail Police Station on March 1 that year.

Police submitted the charge sheet to the court against 18 people in July 2008. As accused Jabbar Mohari died during the proceedings, his name was dropped from the case.

Thirty prosecution witnesses gave their statements before the court.

Two accused -- Ruma Akhter and Faruk Miah -- gave confessional statements to the court, but later went into hiding after securing bail, said Special Public Prosecutor Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan.

According to the statements, Ruma, a sex worker, engaged in sexual activities with the accused in Paltan’s shop on night of the incident.

But when they refused to pay Ruma for her services, she started putting pressure on Paltan for the money, he said.

At one stage, an altercation broke out between Paltan and Ruma when he [Paltan] refused to pay. The accused got involved later and beat Paltan to death, the SPP added.

Meanwhile, the prosecution also expressed satisfaction with the judgement.

However, Sanaul Alam Rifat, younger brother of convict Kabir Miah, told The Daily Star that his brother was not involved with the incident.

“We did not get the justice in the case,” he said.

Advocate Muhibbur Rahman Mahboob, a defence lawyer, said that they would appeal to the higher court against the judgement.