Two sentenced to death in separate rape and double-murder cases in Netrokona, Cumilla
Courts in Netrokona and Cumilla on Wednesday sentenced two men to death in separate cases involving the rape of an 11-year-old girl and the murders of a university student and her mother.
Both convicts were also fined. In the Netrokona case, the court directed the state to take full responsibility for the maintenance, education and upbringing of the child born as a result of the rape.
The verdicts were delivered by separate courts.
Madrasa teacher sentenced to death for raping 11-year-old girl
A court in Netrokona sentenced madrasa teacher Aman Ullah Mahmud (30) to death for raping an 11-year-old girl in Madan and making her pregnant. He was also fined 100,000 taka.
Judge and District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Abdus Salam of the Netrokona Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered the verdict.
The court acquitted the other accused, Mamun Mia, the convict's elder brother, as the charges against him could not be proved.
The court also ordered the state to bear full responsibility for the maintenance, education and upbringing of the child born as a result of the incident.
Public Prosecutor Nurul Kabir said the trial was completed in 60 working days after testimony from 10 witnesses. A DNA test report prepared by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was presented as key scientific evidence, establishing a 99.99% match between the newborn's DNA and that of the accused teacher.
According to the case records, the girl had been living with her maternal grandfather in Madan, Netrokona, and studying at the madrasa after her parents separated. Her mother worked as a domestic worker in Sylhet.
When the girl fell ill and her mother noticed physical changes, she returned home. On April 18, doctors at a clinic in Madan municipal town confirmed that the girl was pregnant following medical examinations. She later told her family that she had been raped.
On April 23, the girl's mother filed a case against madrasa teacher Aman and his elder brother, Mamun. Police arrested Aman Ullah from Gauripur in Mymensingh on May 6.
Considering the girl's safety and future, the court ordered on May 12 that she be placed in a safe home in Sylhet under the Department of Social Services. She gave birth to a daughter there on July 2. The DNA test subsequently established the accused teacher's paternity.
Investigation officer and Madan Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman submitted the charge sheet against both accused to the court on August 27. The court fixed the date for the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides.
The girl's mother expressed satisfaction with the verdict and thanked the court for directing the state to ensure the maintenance and future security of her daughter and granddaughter.
Man sentenced to death for killing Cumilla University student and her mother
In a separate case, a court in Cumilla sentenced the sole accused, Mobarak Hossain, to death for murdering Cumilla University Public Administration Department student Sumaiya Afrin Rinthi and her mother, Tahmina Begum.
The court also fined him 200,000 taka for killing Sumaiya and 100,000 taka for murdering her mother.
Judge Mohammad Yasin Arafat of the Cumilla Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 delivered the verdict on Wednesday afternoon.
Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Advocate Abdul Motaleb said the trial was completed in just two months and 15 days. Testimony began on October 12, while arguments concluded on October 27. A total of 13 witnesses testified in the case.
Sumaiya's brother, Mohammad Tajul Islam, and her classmates expressed satisfaction with the verdict and demanded its swift execution.
Speaking at the court, Tajul said, "I have received justice. Now I want to see the verdict implemented quickly. Such incidents should never happen again. I hope the verdict will also be upheld by the higher court."
According to the case records, Sumaiya Afrin Rinthi, a student of the 2021-22 academic session at Cumilla University, and her mother, Tahmina Begum, were murdered at a rented house in the Kaliajuri area of Cumilla city on September 7, 2025. Police recovered their bodies from the house the following day, September 8.
The victim's family subsequently filed a murder case with Kotwali Model Police Station.
Police arrested Mobarak after the incident. On September 9, he confessed to his involvement in the murders in a statement recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a Cumilla court.
According to information gathered during the investigation, Mobarak became acquainted with Sumaiya's family through his involvement in spiritual healing practices. He had been visiting their house for about a month before the murders.
In his confessional statement, Mobarak admitted to raping Sumaiya and killing her mother after she witnessed the assault.