2 get life in prison, woman acquitted in heroin case

The two convicts have also been fined Tk 20,000 and will have to spend another three months in prison if they default on payment

The Dhaka court has sentenced two suspects to life in prison in a case of heroin possession and dealing in Jatrabari’s Dayaganj area.

Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Moin Uddin Chowdhury delivered the verdict in the case on Monday.

Additional Public Prosecutor Zahirul Islam (Qayyum), the state lawyer for the court, said: "In addition to the sentence, the two accused -- Imran and Robin -- will have to pay a fine of Tk 20,000 each and in default, will have to spend another three months in prison."

However, a woman named Sanjida was acquitted as the charges against her were not proven.

The judge delivered the verdict in the presence of the accused. After the verdict, arrest warrants were issued against the convicts and they were sent to jail, said the court's Bench Assistant Zahirul Islam.

According to the case details, on Jan 23, 2019, police received a tip-off that heroin was being sold in the Dayaganj area of Jatrabari. They conducted a raid at the location and arrested Imran and Robin. Two other drug dealers named Baby and Sanjida also allegedly fled the scene. At the time, police recovered 118 grams of heroin from Imran and Robin.

That same day, Jatrabari Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Billal Hossain Jony filed a case over the incident. After an investigation, Jatrabari Police Station SI Mukit Hasan filed a charge sheet against Imran, Robin and Sanjida on Apr 23 that year.

Baby was discharged as evidence did not tie her to the case. On Jun 27, 2019, three suspects were indicted and the trial began. During the trial, the court heard the testimony of five people.

The verdict was delivered on Monday after the court heard the arguments from the prosecution and defence.