Two Cousins Sentenced to Death Over Land Dispute Killing in Jessore

In Jessore’s Jhikargacha Upazila, two cousins, Osman Gani and Ali Hossain, have been sentenced to death in the murder case of Kamruzzaman.

The verdict was delivered on Monday (24 November) afternoon by Judge Juel Adhikari of the Additional District and Sessions Judge 5th Court.

The convicts are Osman Gani and Ali Hossain, sons of the late Shobhed Ali Sardar from Choto Podulia village in Shankarpur Union of Jhikargacha. Another accused, Osman’s wife Khadija Khatun, has been acquitted.

Additional Public Prosecutor Azizul Islam confirmed the verdict. The defence, however, claims they did not receive justice and plan to appeal to the higher court.

According to case documents, a long-standing land dispute existed between Kamruzzaman, son of Nurul Haque of Choto Podulia village, and his cousins Osman and Ali Hossain. On 7 September 2023, an argument over the construction of a boundary wall escalated, during which the two cousins attacked Kamruzzaman with machetes at his home. Two of Kamruzzaman’s sisters-in-law and a nephew were also injured trying to intervene.

Locals took the injured first to Jhikargacha Upazila Health Complex, and then to Jessore General Hospital, where Kamruzzaman later died.

The deceased’s father, Ruhul Amin Sardar, filed a police case against three individuals. Following an investigation, on 3 July, Sub-Inspector Boni Israel of Jhikargacha Police Station submitted the charge sheet to the court. With the charges proven, the court sentenced Osman and Ali Hossain to death and fined each 10,000 taka.

Public Prosecutor Azizul Islam noted that issuing a verdict in a murder case within two years is rare and that the government is satisfied with the ruling.

Khaborwala/SS