A Dhaka court on Wednesday (21 May) commuted the death sentences of four men to life imprisonment in the 2009 murder case of a youth named Rana in the capital’s Demra area.

The verdict came from Judge Mohammad Halim Ullah Chowdhury of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 after a retrial.

The four convicts whose sentences were reduced are Masud, Al Amin alias Alam, Shafiqul Islam alias Robin, and Jahangir Hossain. Two others—Babla and Monir Hossain—had already been given life terms, which the court upheld.

In 2017, another judge of the same tribunal had sentenced four of them to death and two to life in prison. However, the High Court, during the death reference hearing, found that six key witnesses, including the investigation officer, had not been examined. The court then ordered a retrial and directed it to be completed within six months.

On Wednesday, four of the convicts—Al Amin, Shafiqul Islam, Masud, and Babla—were present in court and were sent back to jail after the verdict. Monir and Jahangir are absconding. The court issued conviction and arrest warrants against them.

According to the case details, Rana's body was found on 10 January 2009 in an empty plot in Shunnochengra village under Demra Police Station. The next day, Sub-Inspector Abul Kalam filed a murder case.

Later that year, Masud and Al Amin gave confessional statements in court. On 31 October 2009, police submitted the charge sheet against six people, and on 1 February 2012, formal charges were framed, launching the trial.

MSK/