Nine to walk the gallows for killing Narail Awami League leader

A Khulna court has sentenced nine people, including a former Union Parishad (UP) chairman, to death for murdering an Awami League leader over political rivalry in Narail last year. The judge of Khulna’s Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal, Md Abdur Rab Hawlader, passed the order on Sunday in presence of the nine accused. The convicts, including an Awami League activist with the rest being supporters of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, were also fined Tk50,000 each. They are former Bhadrabila UP chairman Md Shahidur Rahman Mina, son Md Ashikur Rahman Mina, brother Md Ilias Mina and nephew Rasel Mina, Mamun Mina, Enayet Molla, Yasin Molla, Bashar Molla and Rabiul Molla. Local ruling party leader Prabhash Roy, 50, was hacked with sharp weapons by several attackers in Mirapara Bazar area in the evening of February 1, 2017, according to case documents. He was then rushed to Narain Sadar Hospital with critical injuries and later referred to Jessore Medical College Hospital. He died there undergoing treatment several hours later. Prabhash’s wife had filed the murder case accusing the nine at Narail Sadar police station afterwards. Police submitted the charge sheet on February 22 last year. Then on June 13, the District Judge’s Court of Narail transferred the case to the Speedy Trial Tribunal in Khulna, which indicted all of them 20 days later.