Man sentenced to death for kidnapping and killing 10-year-old boy in Keraniganj

A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced Md Mokbul Hossain to death for the abduction and murder of 10-year-old Tawhid Islam in South Keraniganj last year.

The verdict was delivered today (12 November) by Judge Munshi Md Moshiar Rahman of Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4 in the presence of the accused. 

Alongside the death penalty, Mokbul was fined Tk5 lakh.

In a separate count of abduction, he was also sentenced to life imprisonment and fined an additional Tk2 lakh.

The tribunal ordered that the fines be realised through the sale of Mokbul's movable or immovable property and handed over to the victim's family through the district magistrate.

Mokbul, son of the late Ali Hossain, hails from Lakharchar area under Keraniganj Model Police Station in Dhaka district.

Confirming the verdict, state prosecutor Ershad Alam George said, "The convict was produced before the court from jail during the pronouncement of the verdict. After the judgment, a warrant was issued, and he was sent back to prison."

Following the verdict, the victim's mother, Mosammat Taslima Akter, and sister broke down in tears. Expressing satisfaction with the ruling, the family said they found solace knowing justice had been served. 

"The death penalty will bring peace to his soul," said Taslima.

According to the case documents, Tawhid Islam, a student of Nazera section at Jamia Islamia Madrasah and Orphanage in Rasulpur, Abdullahpur area of South Keraniganj, was kidnapped on 10 February 2024.

After finishing his evening class around 8:30pm, he went to his uncle's shop. Not finding him there, the boy started walking home alone. On his way, Mokbul abducted him and demanded ransom from the family.

The next morning, around 10:30am, the victim's uncle left the ransom money at the designated spot chosen by the kidnapper. Despite receiving the money, Mokbul did not release the boy.

Later, the family sought help from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which arrested Mokbul. Based on his confession, the child's body was recovered from a septic tank.

The victim's mother, Taslima Akter, filed a case at South Keraniganj Police Station following the incident.

On 31 July 2024, Sub-Inspector AKM Saiduzzaman of South Keraniganj Police Station submitted the charge sheet against Mokbul. The court framed charges and began the trial, during which testimonies from 18 witnesses were recorded before reaching the verdict.