Published : 06 Sep 2026, 10:14 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:48 AM
The High Court has upheld the death sentences of two of the seven accused sentenced to death by a trial court in the murder case of shrine attendant Rahmat Ali in Rangpur, while acquitting the other five.
A division bench comprising Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Sathika Hossain delivered the verdict on Sunday after hearing the death reference and appeals filed by the accused.
The two whose death sentences were upheld are banned Islamist militant organisation Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)’s Rangpur regional commander Md Masud Rana alias Mamun alias Montri and its member Md Liton Mia alias Rafiq.
The five accused acquitted by the High Court are Isahak Ali, Sakhawat Hossain alias Rahul, Sarwar Hossain Sabu alias Mizan, northern regional commander Bijoy alias Ali alias Darji, and Chandu Mia.
Assistant Attorney General Al Amin Siddiqui represented the state, while Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, SM Shahjahan, Barrister Anwar Hossain, Md Atikul Islam Selim and Shafik were the defence counsels.
Rahmat, 60, the attendant of a shrine at Chaitar Mor in Madhupur Union of Kaunia Upazila, was hacked indiscriminately and had his throat slit while returning home on the night of Nov10, 2015.
Later, his son Shafiqul Islam filed a murder case with Kaunia Police Station.
The case investigating officer, Kaunia Police Inspector (Investigation) Mamun Or Rashid, submitted a chargesheet to the court on Jul 3, 2016, naming 14 members of JMB, including the group’s Rangpur regional commander Masud.
On Aug 16, 2017, Rangpur Special Judge Naresh Chandra Sarkar framed charges against 12 accused and ordered the trial to open.
He delivered the verdict on Mar 18, 2018, sentencing seven accused to death and acquitting six others.
Among the suspects, Masud Rana, Isahak Ali, Liton Mia and Sakhawat Hossain had also been sentenced to death in the murder case of Japanese national Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur.
