Classmate sentenced to death for killing private university student in 2011

A Dhaka court has sentenced a man to death in a case filed over the murder of a private university student Shamim Hasan at Zia Udyan in the capital in 2011.

Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 Judge Farzana Yasmin delivered the verdict today (15 January), the tribunal's bench assistant Mizanur Rahman confirmed the matter.

As the convict has been absconding, the court also issued an arrest warrant against him at the time of delivering the judgment.

Shamim was an honours second-year student of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Development Alternative (UODA). The convicted accused, Chowdhury Md Julkar Nain alias Moni, was his classmate.

According to the case statement, Shamim and Julkar Nain studied in the same department at UODA and lived together in a rented room in Adabar. Julkar Nain had asked Shamim to lend him Tk50,000 to pay examination fees, but Shamim said he was unable to do so.

Holding a grudge over the refusal, Julkar Nain later took Shamim out on the night of 6 December 2011, pretending it was an outing.

Although Julkar Nain did not drink alcohol himself, he made Shamim consume alcohol before taking him to Zia Udyan. There, he again demanded money and asked for the key to a locker, saying he would sell Shamim's laptop and mobile phone to arrange the exam fees.

When Shamim refused, Julkar Nain stabbed him in the throat and also stabbed him in the face in an attempt to disfigure him.

Police recovered Shamim's body the following day from Zia Udyan.

Following the incident, Shamim's uncle filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. On 13 March the following year, the investigating officer, then sub-inspector Jahurul Huda, submitted a charge sheet against Julkar Nain.

Charges were framed on 10 September of the same year, and the trial subsequently began. During the trial, the tribunal recorded testimonies from 14 of the 21 listed witnesses.