Khulna court gives death sentence to two for murder of 12-year-old Rakib

Two people have been given death sentences for the murder of 12-year-old boy Rakib Hawlader in Khulna in August this year.

Acting judge of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Dilruba Sultana had kept the verdict pending after arguments ended on Nov 1.

The three accused, Omar Sharif, his mother Beauty Begum, and his uncle Mintu Mia were at court on Sunday to hear the verdict.

Sharif and Mia were handed death sentences, while Begum was acquitted.

After their sentences were delivered, a large crowd outside the court celebrated and took out a procession demanding swift execution of the verdict.

Rakib’s father Nurul Alam said, “My son’s soul will find peace once the death sentences are carried out.”

“No child like Rakib should die like this. This punishment should scare off those who want to commit such crimes,” he added.

Rakib’s mother Lucky Begum was extremely unhappy by the judge’s decision to acquit Beauty Begum. She shouted out her disappointment in court when the verdict was delivered.

State counsel Kazi Abu Shahin said the accused were given the appropriate punishment for their crime.

However, defence lawyer Touhidur Rahman Chowdhury called the verdict ‘emotional’ and said they would move the High Court for ‘justice’.​

On Aug 3, Sharif and Mia, Rakib’s former employers, had inserted a high-pressure air pump nozzle into the child’s rectum and filled his body with air at Sharif’s motorcycle repair workshop in Tutparha.

Begum was present at the time of the atrocity.

The high air pressure tore the boy’s intestines, rectum and bladder causing profuse internal bleeding in the stomach.

Rakib later died at Khulna Medical College Hospital.

Locals had caught the trio right after Rakib’s death. The boy’s father, Nur Alam Hawlader, lodged the murder case against them at Khulna Sadar Police Station the next day.

Case investigating officer Sub-Inspector Kazi Mostak Ahmed filed the chargesheet on Aug 25 and the trial began on Oct 5.