Body cut into 10 pieces after murder: Woman, brother-in-law sentenced to death

The convicts have been absconding since 2023 after being released on bail

A Dhaka court has sentenced a woman and her brother-in-law to death for the murder of trader Mofizur Rahman, whose body was dismembered into 10 pieces and dumped in parts of Keraniganj.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Israt Jahan Munni delivered the verdict on Thursday.

The convicts are Maksuda Akter Lucky and her brother-in-law Salauddin, identified by a single name. The court has also fined each of them Tk 10,000.

The two have been absconding since 2023 after being released on bail. As they remain fugitives, the court has issued arrest warrants alongside their sentencing orders.

On Jan 1, 2018, police recovered a dismembered torso—lacking hands, feet, and head—from a ditch outside the mass grave site in Keraniganj’s Beuta. Sub-Inspector SM Mehedi Hasan initiated a case at the Keraniganj Police Station in connection with the incident the following day.

The plaintiff's lawyer Robiul Islam said, “The victim was a gold and fertiliser trader. He used to practice Ayurvedic healing as well. Lucky’s husband lives abroad and the couple had one son. Seeking to have more children, she became involved with the victim. Eventually, they became involved in an extramarital affair.

“When the matter became known, the accused planned the murder. On Dec 31, 2017, they invited the victim to Lucky’s house. Mofizur Rahman went there and the accused spiked the beef curry and tea with sleeping pills to render him unconscious. Later, they cut his body into 10 pieces and dumped the parts in multiple locations.”

Robiul added, “Following Mofizur’s disappearance, his brother filed a police complaint. The investigation pointed to the accused, who were arrested by police. Later, they confessed to the murder and police recovered pieces of Mofizur’s body.”

Nazmul Hasan, an inspector of Dhaka’s South Detective Branch, conducted the investigation and submitted a chargesheet against the two on Sept 21, 2018.

On Oct 30, 2019, the court indicted the accused and the trial commenced. During the trial, the court heard testimonies from 19 witnesses.