11 years after Narayanganj seven murders, families await verdict's implementation
Today (27 April) marks the 11th anniversary of the gruesome post-abduction murders
Roza, who was born a month after her father's murder, is now a fifth-grader at a madrasah. While her classmates enjoy the affection of their fathers, for Roza, a framed photograph is all that remains.
Her father, Jahangir Alam, was one of the victims of the widely discussed seven-murder incident in Narayanganj.
Yesterday marked the 11th anniversary of the gruesome post-abduction murders.
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Although the verdict in the case was pronounced in 2017, sentencing 15 to death, the execution of the verdict remains pending, leaving the victims' families waiting in despair.
Nupur, Jahangir Alam's widow, has raised her daughter alone since the tragedy.
"No one comes to inquire about us anymore. Everyone has forgotten their promises. You people only come when the year turns, that's it. Only my daughter and I know how we are surviving," she said.
Like Nupur, other bereaved families continue to struggle with hardship after losing their loved ones. The pain of their loss remains fresh even after all these years.
Relatives of the seven victims say they still live in fear, especially of the main accused, Nur Hossain. Many expressed frustration over the delay in implementing the final verdict and remain anxious about their safety.
Selina Islam Beauty, widow of slain Narayanganj city councillor Nazrul Islam and the complainant in one of the cases, voiced her doubts over the prolonged delay.
"We did not get the verdict implemented during the Awami League's tenure. I implore this government to implement the verdict. Nur Hossain's accomplices still threaten us in various ways. We are suffering from insecurity," she said.
On 27 April 2014, seven people, including Nazrul Islam, his aides, driver Jahangir Alam, senior lawyer Chandan Sarker, and Chandan's driver, were abducted. Their bodies were found floating in the Shitalakkhya River three days later.
Following the incident, two cases were filed with the Fatullah police station — one by Selina Islam and another by Bijoy Kumar Paul, a relative of Chandan Sarker.
Charge sheets in the cases were submitted in April 2015.
On 16 January 2017, the Narayanganj District and Sessions Judge Court delivered its verdict, sentencing Nur Hossain, three former RAB officials, and 26 others to death, while nine others received various terms of imprisonment.
The accused later appealed to the higher court. On 22 August 2017, the High Court upheld the death sentence for 15 individuals, including Nur Hossain and Tareque Sayeed. Eleven others were sentenced to life imprisonment, while nine received varying terms.
Advocate Sakawat Hossain Khan, lawyer for the plaintiff, said, "We expect that the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will uphold the High Court's verdict in this brutal seven-murder incident. We will demand that the state expedite the hearing and resolution of this case and quickly implement the verdict."
