Man sentenced to death for killing 5-yr-old girl after rape in Jhenaidah

A Jhenaidah tribunal on Monday sentenced a man to death for killing a five-year-old girl after rape in Kaliganj upazila in February this year.

The convict is Abu Taher, son of Shafi Uddin of Faraspur village in the upazila.

Judge of the Jhenaidah Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Salehuzzaman also awarded seven-year imprisonment to him for concealing the body of the girl after the murder and fined him Tk 5 lakh.

The tribunal ordered the fine be paid to the victim’s “legal heirs.” If the convict fails to pay the fine, the authorities concerned will recover the amount by auctioning off his property.

According to the prosecution, Tabassum, daughter of Nazrul Islam of Bhoiraba village in Maheshpur upazila, used to live with her family at Badedihi village in the Barobazar area of Kaliganj.

On February 26, Abu Taher, a neighbour, took Tabassum to his house after alluring her of giving chips and juice.

Later, he violated the girl and strangulated her to death. After killing her, Taher dumped the body into the septic tank of a local school.

The body was later recovered the following day.

Police arrested Abu Taher from Kushtia on the same night following the filing of a case and he a gave a confessional statement before the court.

Police submitted a charge sheet against him on May 26 and 17 witnesses testified in the case before the verdict was delivered.