Prof Rezaul Murder: 2 militants get death sentence

Two militants of outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been sentenced to death and three others to life term imprisonment for killing Prof AFM Rezaul Karim Siddiquee of Rajshahi University in 2016.

Judge Shirin Kabita Akhter of the Speedy Trial Tribunal, Rajshahi also slapped a fine of Tk 20,000 on each of the convicts.

The death convicts are Shariful Islam alias Rahat alias Khalid alias Boss of Bagmara of Rajshahi, a student of English at RU, who is at large, and Maskawath Hasan Sakib alias Masud alias Abdullah, a student of Rangpur Polytechnic Institute, of Bogra.

Their direct involvement in the murder was proved beyond doubt, said the judge.

The other three convicts are Rahmatullah alias Shahin, a student of crop science at RU, Abdus Sattar and his son Ripon Ali.

They abetted the killers by providing them shelter and hiding their motorcycle and weapons used in the killing.

The tribunal judge while reading out the verdict for one hour and fifteen minutes explained how the convicts were found guilty from the confessional statements of four accused, testimony of witnesses and pieces of evidence.

The murder had no eyewitness, but it had two of total 27 prosecution witnesses who saw the killers wielding bloodstained weapons speeding away from the scene shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

Some of the killers studied books and guides of Islamic State and Al Qaeda on how to kill people, make explosives and use firearms, the tribunal observed.

Death convict Abdullah

The murder of Prof Rezaul was a part of JMB's plan to kill anyone who would create an obstacle on its way to establishing Islamic rule in the country, the court added.

All the accused took part in the killing with the same intention but did not necessarily plan it sitting at one place, a common strategy of JMB, said the judge.

Prof Rezaul's son Riasat Imtiaz Sourav expressed satisfaction at the verdict.

"We have got justice," he said, adding, "We would have been happier if all the accused were handed down death penalty."

"We now want the arrest of the fugitive killer and execution of the verdict," said Rizwana Hasin Shotovi, the slain professor's daughter.

The accused present at the dock did not show any emotion hearing the verdict, but their family members broke down.

Defence counsel Mizanul Islam said they would challenge the verdict at the higher court.

The court premise was full of police, journalists, teachers and students of English of the university before announcement of the verdict started at 12:45pm.

Prof Ridita Mizan of English said the students and teachers held movements on the campus for days demanding justice.

“Prof Rezaul was such a nice personality who would not only teach but also guide us like a guardian. He shaped many of our lives and his murder was a loss for the university,” said Prof Ridita.

Prof Rezaul, also well known as Mukul, was stabbed to death in Shalbagan area while he was on his way to the university on April 23, 2016.

According to charge sheet, his student Shariful targeted him for the murder, responsibility of which was claimed by the Islamic State.

Earlier on November 3, 2016, detectives pressed charges against eight JMB members for killing the professor as part of their countrywide murders of freethinkers, bloggers and believers of different faiths.

Three of the eight have already been killed in police raid and “gunfights”.

Khairul Islam Payal alias Badhan was killed during a raid on Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 1, 2016. The other two -- Nazrul Islam alias Bike Hasan and Tareque Hasan Milu alias Osman -- were killed in “gunfights” in Rajshahi and Bogra.

Badhan, Nazrul, Osman and Sakib directly took part in the killing, while Shariful and four others abetted them.