Inmate to face 'further' charges for 'replacing' murder convict at Sylhet Central Jail

A 26-year-old man has been serving time at Sylhet Central Jail for the last two years in return for money, a court investigation has revealed.

The life term for a murder commenced on Oct 11, 2015 when Ripon Ahmed Bhutto entered prison in place of Iqbal Hossain Bokul, the actual chargesheeted accused in the case, according to recent media reports.

A probe committee headed by Sylhet Chief Judicial Magistrate Kazi Abdul Hannan was formed to inquire into the matter.

The committee submitted its report on Tuesday.

Hearing the report on Sunday, a Sylhet court ordered police to start a case of fraudulence against Ripon and arrest Bokul.

District and Sessions Judge Monir Ahmed passed the order.

Ripon had been in prison in exchange for money, having been induced by three - Bokul's brother and intern law practitioner Shamim Ahmed, advocate Shah Alam and BRTA's agent Liakat Hossain Hannan into the act, claims the probe report.

The three others will also face cases over their involvement in the swap.

The court has ordered the lawyers’ association in Sylhet to take departmental action against Shah Alam and Shamim Ahmed.

It has ordered the Sylhet deputy commissioner to free his office and the court premises of brokers.

The case was initiated over the murder of Ali Akbar Sumon, a resident of Chanpur village under the district town.

Ripon was currently staying in Saudi Arabia, said Hannan.

On Jun 20, 2012, a speedy trial tribunal of magistrate Dilip Kumar Debnath handed a life to Bokul and two others.

The other two convicts are Dorach Mia, alias Goyach, 34, and his wife Ruzina Begum, 32.