Dhaka student Momin murder: HC upholds death for two, life imprisonment for six others

The High Court has upheld the trial court’s death sentences for two people and life imprison for six others in the murder of student Kamrul Islam Momin in Dhaka.

A High Court bench of Justice Bhabani Prasad Singha and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam announced its decision on the death reference and appeals on Thursday.

In 2005, Dhaka Commerce College student Momin was killed in front of his home in the capital’s Kafrul area.

In 2011, the trial court sentenced three people to death and jailed six others for life.

The prime suspect and death row convict, former police inspector AKM Rafiqul Islam, died in prison in December 2015. The case was well-known for the efforts made by police to ‘save’ Rafiq.

The High Court verdict excluded Islam, who was the OC of Dhaka’s Motijheel police in 2005, due to his death and upheld sentences for the others.

Of the suspects, Sakhawat Hossain Jewel and Tarek alias Zia are sentenced to death. Habibur Rahman Taj, Zafor Ahmed, Monir Howladar, Babu, Asiful Haq Jony and Sharif Uddin received life in prison.

Kamrul Islam Momin (File Photo)

Taj and Babu, who are both in prison, had appealed the trial court’s decision at the High Court. The remaining six are absconding, said Assistant Attorney General Bashir Ahmed.

Momin’s older brother Shamsul Islam Shumon told the media he was satisfied with the decision.

 “We have received justice. We were often deceived by the police administration. They were trying to influence the case in many ways. We have yet to receive any help from them. Most of the convicts are still at large.”

“Taj’s gang is still active,” said Shumon. “We have repeatedly gone to the police station to call for arrests, but they haven’t even issued warrants.”

The Supreme Court will uphold the decision if it is appealed, he says.

Momin was killed in a feud over property boundaries in front of his home in north Ibrahimpur on Sept 13, 2005. That day his father filed a case against OC Rafiq and 25 others.

On May 13, 2007 the Police Criminal Investigation Division (CID) filed a chargesheet excluding Rafiq from the list of suspects.

An objection was filed with the court and the case was given to the Detective Branch. On Mar 2, 2008 the DB submitted a report that also excluded Rafiq.

The judicial branch then took over the investigation and, on Oct 30, 2008 filed a report accusing OC Rafiq and eight others.

The chargesheet was accepted on Nov 11 that same year. The trial began with the indictment of the nine suspects on Oct 5, 2009.

The case was later handed over to another court. On Jan 2, 2011 Rafiq was indicted again. The verdict was declared on Jul 20, 2011.

The case was then sent to the High Court the death references and appeals. The High Court began hearing the case on Nov 12, 2016.