Home
+
Published : 20 May 2026, 04:50 PM
A Cox's Bazar court has sentenced four people to death and nine others to life in prison for the murder of Army officer Lt Tanzim Sarwar Nirjan.
He was stabbed to death during an anti-robbery drive in Cox’s Bazar’s Dulahazara Union a year and a half ago.
Judge Mohammad Abul Mansur Siddiqui of the Cox's Bazar Additional District and Sessions Judges’ Court handed down the verdict on Wednesday afternoon.
The high-profile murder trial concluded with the acquittal of five other suspects due to unproven allegations, according to Md Jahangir, the chief prosecution counsel.
The condemned convicts are Mohammad Helal Uddin, Nurul Amin, Mohammad Nasir Uddin and Morshed Alam, all residents of Chakaria’s Dulahazara.
Among them, Morshed remains at large.
The fatal encounter occurred on the night of Sept 23, 2024 near Purba Maizpara village when the 23-year-old officer of the Bangladesh Army was stabbed by robbers during a midnight operation.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army received reports of a robbery in the village around 3am. Members of the Chakaria Army camp rushed to the spot within an hour.
During the raid, Lt Tanzim chased several members of a seven-to-eight-man robber gang.
The criminals stabbed him in the neck, causing massive bleeding. He was immediately rushed to Malumghat Memorial Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Born in Tangail, Tanzim completed his Higher Secondary Certificate from Pabna Cadet College before receiving his commission from the Military Academy in the 82nd Long Course.
His tragic death triggered widespread shock and mourning across the country.
Two days after the incident, Senior Warrant Officer Abdullah Al Harunur Rashid filed a case against 17 individuals on charges of murder and preparation for robbery.
Chakaria Police Station Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain lodged a separate case under the Arms Act.
The station's Inspector (Investigation) Arup Kumar Chowdhury subsequently took charge of the investigations.
Following the probe, police submitted chargesheets against 18 people in both cases, dropping several initial suspects due to a lack of evidence and naming new suspects unearthed during the investigation.
Prosecution ‘Satisfied’, Defence to Appeal
The verdict in one of the country's most talked-about murder cases came after a trial that ran for one year and eight months, drawing a charged atmosphere outside the courthouse on Wednesday afternoon.
Lawyers for the plaintiff expressed satisfaction with the outcome while defence lawyers announced they would challenge the verdict in the High Court.
Jahangir, chief lawyer for the plaintiff, said a young Army officer had lost his life in the line of duty. "His family, the Army, the state, and the people of the country all wanted justice to be done.”
He said the court had not merely followed the charges but had weighed evidence, exhibits, circumstances and all aspects of the case before arriving at the verdict.
"After reviewing everything, four have been given exemplary punishment," he added.
Another lawyer for the plaintiff, Sezan Ehsan, said the dock remained calm during the reading of the verdict but a clear sense of guilt was visible in the accused's faces and demeanour.
"Lt Tanzim was a patriotic officer. He went there to protect people's lives and property and ensure legal safety. But he was brutally killed in the situation that unfolded," he said.
Sezan confirmed that verdicts in both the murder case and the Arms Act case were delivered on Wednesday.
Alongside the death sentences and life terms, 13 of the convicts received an additional 10 years in prison under Sections 399 and 402 of the Penal Code. Five were acquitted.
He mentioned that they are “reasonably satisfied” with the verdict, as the judge prioritised social justice, public safety and discipline in his observations.
The lawyer added that the judge also noted that ensuring punishment for the actual perpetrators while protecting the innocent from conviction remains a vital component of the judicial system.
He said the full judgment copy would be reviewed before any decision is taken on the five acquittals.
On the other hand, several defence lawyers claimed they were “denied justice”.
Lawyer Tahsin Sifat, representing the fifth and sixth defendants, said they are unhappy with the verdict.
“In particular, the life sentences and the separate punishment under the Arms Act given to defendants number five and six have led us to believe they have been denied justice. We will appeal against this verdict,” he added.
