Shariatpur youth murder: 5 sentenced to death, 12 acquitted

A Dhaka tribunal today (3 July) sentenced five individuals to death for the 2017 murder of Delwar Hossain Sardar, a youth from Paschim Charrosuddi village under Palong Model Thana in Shariatpur. 

Twelve other accused were acquitted due to the lack of evidence against them.

Judge Mohammad Halim Ullah Chowdhury of Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 delivered the verdict.

The five death-row convicts are — Jewel Sardar, Rezaul Sardar, Aminul Sardar, Ismail Sardar and Salmun Sardar. They have also been fined Tk1 lakh each.

Those acquitted are Mojibur Sardar, Fazlul Sardar, A Malek Sardar, Mokhles Sardar, Mahbub Sardar, Tota Sardar, Tipu Sardar, Parchez Sardar, Abdul Salam Sardar, Pavel Sardar, Azizul Haque Sardar, and Parul Begum.

According to Prosecutor Gias Uddin, the killing stemmed from a longstanding feud between the families of the victim and the accused.

On the evening of 12 July 2017, Delwar Hossain Sardar and his brother Dulal Sardar were returning home from Subachani Bazar in an auto-rickshaw when the assailants intercepted them.

The attackers forcibly dragged Delwar from the vehicle and repeatedly struck him with hammers, daggers, and hockey sticks on the road. 

Locals who heard the screams rushed to the scene and took Delwar to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital. He was later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.

Delwar's father, Abdul Salam Sardar, filed a murder case with Palong Model Police Station on 14 July 2017.

Following the investigation, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Faridpur submitted a charge sheet against 18 individuals on 10 December 2018. One accused later died, and the court proceeded with the trial against the remaining 17.

Special Public Prosecutor Gias Uddin led the prosecution, assisted by lawyers Syed Nazmul Huda and Atiar Kazi.