Zainal Sardar, a convicted associate of executed criminal Ershad Shikder, has been arrested in Khulna after 27 years in hiding.
Zainal, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case filed with Rupsha Police Station in Khulna, was arrested during a joint operation by teams from SRB-6 and SRB-8 in the Sonadanga area of Khulna city.
Lt Colonel Nistar Ahmed, commander of SRB-6, confirmed the arrest.
He said the joint teams from the headquarters companies of SRB-6 and SRB-8 conducted the operation at around 10:50pm on Saturday based on intelligence and information obtained through technology.
Zainal Sardar is the son of the late Ahammad Ali Sardar of Bongkura village under Gournadi police station in Barisal district.
According to case records, Zainal was convicted in a murder case filed with Rupsha Police Station in 1999. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labour and fined him Tk10,000. In default of payment, he was ordered to serve an additional one year in simple imprisonment.
The court also sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk5,000 for concealing the victim’s body. In default of payment, he was ordered to serve an additional six months in simple imprisonment.
Zainal remained absconding for years following the court’s verdict and was eventually arrested after 27 years.
The arrested convict was handed over to Sonadanga Model Police Station for further legal action.