Aminul Islam murder: Absconding garment worker sentenced to death

A Tangail court has sentenced absconding garment worker Mostafizur Rahman to death for the 2012 murder of labour leader Aminul Islam.

Tangail Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 April 2018, 06:57 AM
Updated : 8 April 2018, 10:41 AM

Tangail Special Judge Wahiduzzaman Sikdar announced the verdict on Sunday, Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity Convener and Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation President Aminul Islam went missing in the Baipail area of Savar on Apr 4, 2012.

Two days later, police from Tangail’s Ghatail Police Station recovered the body of an unknown individual found by the side of the Tangail-Mymensingh Road. The body was buried after no claimants came forward.

But the pictures of the body published in newspapers were identified by Aminul’s family and the body was dug up with the permission of a magistrate. Aminul was later buried at his ancestral home in Kaliakoir.

Following the recovery of Aminuk’s body, Ghatail police filed a case against unknown suspects. Aminul’s brother Rafiqul Islam later filed another statement accusing Mostafizur Rahman and an unnamed woman in a burqa.

According to the statement, Mostafizur went to Aminul’s offices in Ashulia late on the afternoon of Apr 4, 2012, accompanied by the woman. Aminul went missing after they called him, Rafiqul said.

The statement was added to the police case. Though Ghatail police began the investigation, it was later transferred to the detective branch.

Dhaka’s CID took over the case in November, 2013. On Nov 11, 2013, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Fazlul Kabir submitted a chargesheet against Mostafizur at the Tangail district court.

The murder received international attention. The government, under pressure from labour unions, announced a Tk 100,000 reward for information about the whereabouts of suspect Mostafizur Rahman.