Six years on, Narayanganj 7-murder trial still awaits verdict

Six years ago on April 27, 2014, Narayanganj’s then-councilor Nazrul Islam, three of his associates, driver, along with the senior lawyer at the District Judge's Court Chandan Kumar Sarkar and his driver were abducted and later found dead from Narayanganj.

However, despite being sentenced by two separate courts --Narayanganj District and Session Judge Court and the High Court-- the 35 convicts --who were sentenced to death, life imprisonment, and different jail terms-- are still serving in different jails, waiting for the hearing of their appeal plea at the Appellate Division till this day.

The plaintiffs of this case are getting frustrated for the overstretched trials that took place over these six years and alleged that they are being threatened by the convicts’ family members and living under constant fear.

Taslima Begum and Md Abul Khair, parents of Tajul Islam - one of the deceased - said they have long been waiting for the verdict to be upheld but years of delay makes them question whether they will get justice for their son or not.

Tajul’s brother, Saiful Islam Raju, said: “We often receive death threats from people on behalf of the convicts’ and do not even step outside until it’s absolutely necessary, out of fear of being murdered.”

Shamshunnahar Nupur, wife of another victim, Jahangir Alam said: “I was carrying a child when I lost my husband. Now my child and I are waiting for justice. If the courts are unable to provide justice to citizens like us, then why do they exist at all?”

Noor Mohammad, brother of the victim councillor Nazrul Islam, said: “It is hurtful for us to see the convicts roaming around the streets freely. We want proper punishment to be ensured soon.”

Contacted, a lawyer of one of the plaintiffs, Sakhawat Hossain Khan said: “Despite the case being an important one, I do not know why the Appellate Division is taking so long to declare the verdict.”

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the appeal of the cases is waiting for hearing in the Appellate Division.

On April 27, 2014, Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam, his three associates, driver and senior lawyer at the District Judge's Court Chandan Kumar Sarkar and his driver were abducted from Narayanganj.

Three days after their abduction, the bodies of six of them were recovered from the Shitalakhya River. The following day, the body of Nazrul's driver Jahangir was recovered from the river.

A Narayanganj court on January 16, 2017, sentenced 26 people, including three sacked RAB officials and ex-city councillor Nur Hossain, to death and nine others to different jail terms in the two cases.

On August 22, 2017, the High Court upheld the death sentence of 15 convicts, including Nur Hossain and three Rab officials, and commuted the penalty of 11 others to life imprisonment in two cases filed over the seven murders.

The court also upheld various jail terms of nine others in the cases.