Two to die, one gets life

The court also acquitted a youth, as he had become an approver to prove the charges against other accused in the same case.

The court could not proceed with the trial against the mastermind and four others following a stay order of the Supreme Court (SC).

The convicts with death are Jalal alias Zillu and Moksudur Rahman Biplob while Parosh was given life in jail for the killing. The court acquitted Rifat Akond for becoming an approver to prove the allegations against others involved in the killing.

Judge Shahed Noor Uddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 handed down the sentence in presence of the convicts at a packed courtroom.

Following the verdict, victim's wife Shimla Goswami broke down in tears and expressed her satisfaction over the judgement. She also expected quick disposal of the trial against five others, including the mastermind, and execution of their conviction.

The judge could not conduct the trial against five other accusedSM Sabbir Rahman alias Shantanu, Tanvir Sharif Apon, AKM Mosharraf Hossain Arman, Mahmudul Hassan Johny and Shahidul Islam alias Shuvoas the charges brought against them would be tried under the Juvenile Act.

Moreover, the Supreme Court had earlier stayed the proceedings of the case against the five following a writ petition filed by Apon's lawyers challenging the legality of the tribunal to conduct the case as a juvenile court.

In his verdict, the judge said approver Rifat Akond could not be released from jail and would be confined in jail as he (Rifat) would have to give statement against the five juveniles during their trial after the vacation of the SC stay order. So, Rifat has to be in jail till disposal of the trial against the five, even though he was acquitted, the judge added.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 20, out of 28 prosecution witnesses.

According to the prosecution, a group of miscreants hired by Apon and Shantanu, students of class seven of the School, who were expelled and not promoted, shot dead Swapan Kumar Goswami at about 9:15am on October 26, 2002 in front of Sikdar Store near his residence at Bhutergoli in Dhanmondi.

Later, victim's cousin Rumon Chakraborty filed a murder case with Dhanmondi Police Station in this connection the same day.

Following the incident, police arrested Apon, Shantanu and others for their alleged involvement with the killing.

Moreover, Shantanu's father Moshiur Rahman, the then assistant secretary of the education ministry, was also arrested for his negligence in keeping his arms at his residence. Later his name was dropped from the charge sheet.

During the investigation, Zillu, Rifat, Apon and Shantanu gave confessional statements to magistrates on different dates disclosing the names of others involved in the killing.

Special Public Prosecutor Abdul Latif Talukder appeared for the state while Advocate Jasim Uddin defended the accused.