Three Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Over Child Murder in Jamalpur

A court in Jamalpur has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a seven-year-old boy following a dispute over gathering jackfruit leaves. In addition to the life sentences, the convicts received an extra five years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to conceal evidence related to the crime.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Nezam Uddin at the Jamalpur court premises.

The three convicts have been identified as Abul Kashem, Mukaddes, and Swapan, all hailing from the Maguriapara area under Sarishabari upazila in Jamalpur.

Detailing the background of the case, Additional Public Prosecutor Didarul Islam Didar stated that the tragic conflict began on 3 September 2011. A heated altercation erupted between a local resident, Sabuja Begum, and the accused over the seemingly trivial matter of collecting jackfruit tree leaves. The disagreement quickly escalated into physical violence as the suspects attacked Sabuja Begum. When her brother-in-law, Babul Miah, intervened to protect her from the assault, he too was beaten by the group.

In the immediate aftermath of the altercation, Babul Miah’s seven-year-old son, Suman, went missing. Fearing the worst, the family lodged a general diary at the local police station the following day. Tragic reality struck on the morning of 5 September, when police recovered the child’s lifeless body from the Jhinai River near Chaparkona Market.

Following the recovery of his son’s body, Babul Miah filed a formal murder case against five individuals at the local police station. Law enforcement authorities launched a detailed investigation into the incident, eventually submitting a charge sheet in court accusing three primary suspects.

The trial spanned fifteen years, during which the court recorded and evaluated statements from 25 prosecution witnesses. Delivering the final judgment in the presence of all three accused, the court sentenced them to life imprisonment alongside additional prison terms for concealing evidence. Relatives of the young victim expressed their relief and satisfaction with the court’s verdict, feeling that justice had finally been served after a long wait.