A court in Bogura has sentenced five individuals to death and imposed fines in a highly sensitive case involving the abduction, murder, and concealment of the body of a child in Shahjahanpur upazila. In addition, five others, who were minors at the time of the crime, have been handed ten-year prison sentences under juvenile legislation.
The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Judge Anwarul Haque of the Bogura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1. Of the eleven accused, eight were present in court during the pronouncement of the judgment. Two of the principal convicts remain absconding.
Background of the Case
The victim, five-year-old Rifat Hossain, was the son of expatriate Enamul Haque from the Khadas Haatkhola area of Shahjahanpur. According to court records and prosecution submissions, all of the accused were neighbours or known individuals of the victim’s family.
The case dates back to 15 July 2018, when Rifat went missing in the afternoon. Despite extensive searches by his family, he could not be traced, prompting them to file a general diary at Shahjahanpur Police Station. Three days later, his body was recovered from beneath the Bhadroboti Bridge in the nearby Poalgacha village.
Investigators later established that the child had been abducted, followed by a demand for ransom, and subsequently murdered. The body was concealed in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Motive and Investigation Findings
Court proceedings revealed that one of the convicts, Abul Kalam Azad, had repeatedly demanded money from the victim’s father following his return from abroad. On the day of the incident, he allegedly demanded one lakh taka. When the demand was refused, Rifat went missing later that same afternoon.
The investigation confirmed charges of abduction, murder, ransom demand, and concealment of evidence against the accused. One defendant, Masud Rana, died during the trial, and his name was subsequently removed from the case.
Sentencing Overview
The court delivered multiple layers of punishment under various legal provisions, including the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000, as well as the Penal Code.
Category
Number of Convicts
Sentence
Adult offenders
5
Death penalty + fines (Tk 2 lakh each)
Juvenile offenders (at time of crime)
5
10 years imprisonment each
Deceased accused
1
Case withdrawn due to death
The court also imposed additional penalties under sections relating to murder, conspiracy, and destruction of evidence.
Court Directions and Reactions
The tribunal ordered that the convicted juveniles, now adults, be transferred to district custody. Arrest warrants have been issued for the two absconding convicts. The case record will be forwarded to the High Court Division for necessary confirmation of the death sentences.
State counsel Advocate Ali Asgar confirmed that the verdict brought closure to a long-running trial. He further stated that the victim’s family, particularly his father Enamul Haque, expressed satisfaction with the judgment.
The ruling marks the conclusion of a prolonged legal process that began in 2018, highlighting one of the most disturbing child murder cases in the district in recent years.
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