Eight including Jamaat leader sentenced life imprisonment

A Gaibandha court on Thursday sentenced eight people including a Jamaat leader to life imprisonment for killing a farmer named Hasan Ali in Palashbari upazila of the district.

Senior judge of Gaibandha Session judge court Dilip Kumar Bhoumik passed the order on Thursday acquitting seven other accused. However, two more accused are absconding.

Those who were handed down life imprisonment are former Palashbari upazila chairman and organizing secretary of the district Jamaat unit Nazrul Islam Lebu, former Shibir leader Golam Mostofa, former Shibir activist Abdur Rouf and Taleb, Sonali Bank employee Shah Alam, Mizanur Rahman, Jalal Uddin and Faruk Mia of Pirganj upazila in Rangpur. Mizanur and Taleb are on the run.

Expressing satisfaction over the verdict lawyer Shafiqul Islam Shafiq of the plaintiff side said, after a long judicial process the court awarded eight people life imprisonment and fined taka 10 thousand or seven years of jail if unpaid.

However, defence lawyer Sirajul Islam Babu expressed dissatisfaction over the judgment and said his clients will appeal with the upper court.

According to the case statement, Professor Md. Abdul locked altercation with the Jamaat leader Nazrul Islam Lebu centering the recruitment process for a principal post at a college in Ambari village of the upazila in 1999.

Following the feud, supporters of Lebu attacked professor Abdul. As Hasan Ali, son of Momin Uddin in Ambari village, came to save Abdul leaving him severely injured. Hasan Ali later succumbed while undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Abul Kashem, brother of slain Hasan Ali, filed a case with Palashbari police station on August 24 in 1999 accusing 10 people and 10-15 more anonymous.

After investigation police pressed the charge sheet on May 31 next year. However, the deposition of witnesses concluded on March 3 this year.