'Hasina govt falsely implicated us in murder case,' Dr Nitai murder death-row convict alleges after verdict

A death-row convict in the 2012 murder case of National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH) Assistant Professor Dr Narayan Chandra Dutta Nitai has alleged that the fallen government of Sheikh Hasina had falsely implicated them in the case.

The convict, Masum Mintu alias Mintu alias Bargira Mintu, made the allegation to the media after Judge Md Rezaul Karim of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-10 delivered the verdict in the case today, sentencing him and four others to death, and four more to life unto death.

Dr Nitai, who was a leader of the pro-Awami League forum of physicians, the Swadhinata Chikitshok Parishad, and an executive committee member of the Bangladesh Medical Association, was stabbed to death at his NIDCH Doctors' Quarter residence in Mohakhali in the wee hours of 23 August 2012, when he came in front of robbers during a burglary attempt.

Nitai murder: 5 to walk gallows, 4 sentenced to jail unto death

The death-row convicts in the case are— Kamrul Hasan Arun, car driver of Dr Nitai; Bakul Mia, Masum Mintu alias Mintu alias Bargira Mintu, Md Hossain Miji and Sayeed Bepari. Those who have been sentenced to life imprisonment unto death are Saidul, Masum alias Pyada Masum, Md Abul Kalam alias Picchi Kalam and Faisal. In addition, another accused, Rafiqul Islam, was sentenced to life in prison.

Of them, Mintu, Rafiqul, Picchi Kalam, Saidul, Pyada Masum and Faisal have given confessional statements under Section 164 in the case.

However, of them, Rafiqul, Bakul, Mintu, Arun and Sayeed were also shown arrested in the case of the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

Today, on their way to prison with the conviction warrant, death row convict Mintu said, "The Sheikh Hasina government has implicated us in this [Dr Nitai] murder case. They falsely accused us by linking to the Sagar-Runi murder case."

Mintu further alleged that he was forced to sign a confession during the trial by holding his brother hostage. "My home is in Lalbagh, while the incident took place near the Chest Hospital in Banani. The Detective Branch (DB) arrested us, beat us, and forced us to sign [confessional statement]. We know nothing about this case. We are innocent."

During the verdict, the ten accused standing in the dock told the judge, they committed no crime. "We know nothing about the incident, Sir (Judge). We are innocent. Many of us have wives and children. Please have some mercy, Sir," said one of them.

In response, the judge said, "The verdict has been delivered. There is nothing more that can be done now."

At that moment, all the accused were seen crying.

In an immediate reaction, lawyer of the defendants, Abbas Uddin Matubbar said although all 10 accused in the case gave confessional statements, none of them admitted to committing burglary themselves.

"We believe that the verdict was neither appropriate nor correct. We will appeal to the High Court. We hope to receive justice there," he added.

Expressing satisfaction with the verdict, state prosecutor Moazzem Hossain said, "The accused killed Dr Nitai while attempting to commit a theft at his residence. Later, the stolen items were recovered. All the accused in the case have been convicted. Each of them admitted to their involvement. After a lengthy trial, the verdict has finally been delivered. We are satisfied with the judgment. Justice has been served."

The case was filed by Dr Nitai's father Tarit Kanti Datta at Banani police station on 23 August 2012 against unknown individuals. On 11 February 2023, the Investigating Officer of the case, Inspector of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Gazi Ataur Rahman submitted the chargesheet to the court against 10 accused, stating that they killed Dr Nitai Chandra during the burglary attempt.