6 get death for murder of govt officer Aminul Haque Khadem

A Dhaka court has handed the death penalty to six people for the murder of government officer Aminul Haque Khadem following a dispute over the possession of properties in a shrine.

Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 Judge Abdur Rahman Sardar announced the verdict on Thursday. Another suspect in the case has been given life in prison.

The convicts sentenced to death are Shahidur Rahman Khadem alias Minu Khadem, Mahbub Alam Liton alias Daat Bhanga Liton, Sheikh Shamim Ahmed, Md Jewel, Kamal Hossain Biplob and Sohel alias Cat’s Eye Sohel. Of them, Liton and Biplob remain at large.

The other convict in the case, fugitive Abdullah Mohammed Nazim Uddin alias Honda Babu, has been fined TK 20,000 alongside the life imprisonment sentence.

Another suspect in the case named Asgar Hossain Rana has been acquitted after the state failed to prove his involvement in the murder.

Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office’s administrative officer Aminul Haque Khadem  alias Anis Khadem was shot to death near the capital’s Malibagh Shahi Masjid on May 4, 2009.

The government officer had been serving as the general secretary of Kharampur Mazar Committee (shrine committee) in Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura. He resided with his family in Dhaka’s Basabo area.

According to the case, Shahidur Rahman ordered the killing of Aminul following a spat over the ownership of properties in the shrine.

Aminul’s son Saidul Haque Khadem initiated a murder case with the Motijheel Police the day after he was killed. 

The Rapid Action Battalion, or RAB, subsequently submitted a charge sheet against eight suspects in the case on Nov 30, 2009. The court ordered the commencement of the trial after framing the charges against the accused on Jun 8, 2014.

The court found seven of the accused guilty after hearing the testimonies of 17 witnesses in the case.