Rangpur khadem murder: HC upholds death sentences of 2 JMB men, acquits 5

The High Court has upheld the death sentences of two of seven members of the banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) convicted in the 2015 murder of Rahmat Ali, a shrine caretaker in Rangpur, while acquitting the other five.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Sathika Hossain delivered the verdict on Sunday.

Senior lawyer SM Shahjahan represented the accused in court.

The two convicts whose death sentences were upheld are JMB Rangpur region commander Masud Rana and Liton Mia.

The five acquitted by the High Court are JMB members Isahq Ali, Shakhawat Hossain, Sarwar Hossain Sabu, Bijoy alias Ali, and Chandu Mia.

On November 10, 2015, Rahmat Ali, 60, was hacked to death and his throat was slit at Chaitar Mor in Madhupur Union of Kaunia upazila while he was returning home.

The following day, his son Shafiqul Islam filed a murder case with Kaunia Police Station.

After the trial, Rangpur Special Judge Naresh Chandra Sarker sentenced seven accused to death on March 18, 2018.

Six others were acquitted as the charges against them were not proven.

Subsequently, the case records came to the High Court for approval of the death sentences, known as a death reference, while the accused also filed appeals.