Rajbari village doctor murder: 3 sentenced to death, 6 get life term

A tribunal has sentenced three people to death and six others to life imprisonment in a case filed over the 2019 murder of village doctor Md Rezaul Karim, popularly known as Abu Doctor, in Rajbari's Goalanda upazila.

Judge Md Rohibul Islam of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 delivered the verdict today (12 May).

The convicts sentenced to death are Bablu Sardar, Tekon Sardar and Gaziyar Sarkar.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment are Atar Ali Sardar, Md Rayhan Sardar, Habibur Rahman alias Hobi Sardar, Helal Kha, Zillu Bepari and Kazi A Zia Mondal. The court also fined each of them Tk10,000.

State prosecutor Abdul Rashid Mollah confirmed the verdict.

Among the accused, 12 were present in court during the hearing. Ten of them were acquitted. As Zillu Bepari and Zia Mondal were convicted, the court ordered them to be sent to jail. Arrest warrants were issued against the other convicted individuals, who remain absconding.

According to the case statement, the incident took place on 14 October 2019 following an altercation during a Ward No 2 Awami League conference in Goalanda.

The dispute reportedly began between Jubo League leader Bablu Sardar, son of former chairman Atar Ali, and Devgram Union Parishad Chairman Hafizul Islam.

Later, supporters of the two sides became involved in clashes at Atar Ali Bazar. At one stage, Abu Doctor was allegedly attacked while passing through the area.

He was first taken to Goalanda Government Hospital and later referred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The victim's father, Md Mobarak Mollah, later filed the murder case.

Police submitted a charge sheet against 22 people on 5 October 2022. Two of the accused died before the trial concluded. The court recorded testimonies from 29 witnesses during the proceedings.