6 get death penalty for killing Awami League leader in Shariatpur

A Shariatpur court on Sunday sentenced six people to death and four others to life in prison for killing local Awami League leader Habibur Rahman and his brother Monir Hossain in 2001.

The convicts who have received the death sentence are Shafiq Kotwal, Shahid Kotwal, Soleman Sardar, Shahid Talukdar, Mojibur Rahman, and Shahin Kotwal.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Court Judge Md Showkat Hossian issued the verdict in the case, where 39 people were acquitted.

A total 13 of the accused were sentenced to different terms by the court. Among them, five are still on the run. 

Three suspects, including former BNP lawmaker KM Hemayetullah Aurang of Shariatpur, died during the trial, which has taken 20 years. 

Former Shariatpur District Court public prosecutor (PP) Habibur Rahman and his brother Monir Hossain were killed during the national polls in 2001.

Habibur, then-Shariatpur Awami League joint general secretary, was also the president of the District Lawyers Council.

His brother Monir was the organizing secretary of the municipality Jubo League.

Habibur’s wife Jinnat Rahman filed a murder case naming 55 accused, including former lawmaker Aurang.