Two Sentenced to Life Imprisonment over Auto-Driver Murder

A district court in Faridpur has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the murder of an auto-rickshaw driver, whose body was buried following a robbery. Judge Ashok Kumar Datta of the Faridpur District and Sessions Judges’ Court delivered the verdict on Tuesday in a crowded courtroom. Both convicts, identified as Asmat Sheikh and Sagar Mulla, were present in the dock when the sentence was handed down.

The case dates back to 21 April 2022, when the victim, an auto-rickshaw driver named Nayeem Sheikh, was targeted by the perpetrators intending to steal his vehicle. The assailants strangled Nayeem using a cotton towel wrapped tightly around his neck. To conceal the crime and prevent detection, the perpetrators buried his body in the ground shortly after the killing.

Following the disappearance and subsequent discovery of the crime, the victim’s brother, Rased Sheikh, filed a formal murder case with Faridpur Kotwali Police Station on 22 April 2022. The complaint named Asmat Sheikh, Sagar Mulla, and a third accomplice, Ashik Sheikh, as the primary suspects.

Investigating officers swiftly gathered evidence connecting the suspects to the murder and robbery. On 15 May 2022, the investigating officer submitted a formal charge sheet to the court, paving the way for the judicial trial. Because Ashik Sheikh was a juvenile at the time of the offence, his trial was separated and remains ongoing in the local Juvenile Court.

After examining witness testimonies, forensic evidence, and hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence teams, the court found Asmat Sheikh and Sagar Mulla guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Confirming the judgment, Public Prosecutor Advocate Md Azizur Rahman expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that the prosecution successfully presented undeniable evidence against the two adult defendants. He noted that the delivery of justice in this trial delivers a firm message to the public, serving as a strong deterrent against violent crimes and vehicle hijackings in the region.