4 sentenced to death over killing of army officer Tanzim in Cox's Bazar
In a separate arms case filed over the same incident, the court also sentenced 13 people to 17 years’ imprisonment. Five accused were acquitted in both cases as the charges against them could not be proven.
A court in Cox's Bazar today (20 May) sentenced four people to death and nine others to life imprisonment in the murder case of Bangladesh Army officer Lieutenant Tanzim Sarwar in Chakaria.
In a separate arms case filed over the same incident, the court also sentenced 13 people to 17 years' imprisonment. Five accused were acquitted in both cases as the charges against them could not be proven.
The verdict was delivered today (20 May) by Judge Mohammad Abul Mansur Siddiqui of the Additional District and Sessions Judge 5th Court in Cox's Bazar, according to Additional Public Prosecutor Khorshed Alam Chowdhury and chief counsel for the plaintiff Mohammad Jahangir.
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Both lawyers said 12 accused were present in court during the delivery of the verdict.
According to case documents, members of the joint forces conducted an operation in Maijpara village under Dulahazara union of Chakaria in the early hours of 24 September 2024 to prevent robbery and recover illegal weapons.
During the operation, the robbers attempted to flee. Lieutenant Tanzim Sarwar, 23, chased them and was critically injured after being stabbed by the suspects. He later died while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Ramu.
Two separate cases were filed on 25 September.
Senior Warrant Officer Abdullah Al Harunur Rashid of the Fashiakhali Army Camp filed the robbery and murder case, while Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain filed another case under the Arms Act. The cases initially accused 25 people including 17 named.
On 19 January 2025, police submitted charge sheets against 18 accused after completing the investigation.
Although 17 individuals were initially named in the murder case, investigators later found no involvement of six of them and dropped their names from the charge sheet. During the investigation, police identified seven additional suspects not mentioned in the original complaint and included them in separate charge sheets filed under charges of murder, preparation for robbery, and violations of the Arms Act.
Following the acceptance of the charge sheets, the court completed the trial proceedings before delivering the verdict today.
Lieutenant Tanzim hailed from Tangail district. He received his commission in the Army Service Corps (ASC) from the Bangladesh Military Academy in 2022 as part of the 82nd Long Course.
