After 32 years, the court has acquitted 6 people, including 3 public representatives and a lawyer, for life imprisonment and the remaining 20 accused for the murder of Jasad leader Khairul Amin Sikder of Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar.
Abdullah Al Mamun, Additional District and Sessions Judge (1) Court of Cox's Bazar, said that Khairul Amin was killed in a planned manner on Thursday afternoon. Five defendants were present in the courtroom during the pronouncement of the verdict.
Those sentenced are former mayor Sarwar Azam, son of deceased Mojaher Mia of Putibila village of Maheshkhali municipality, his two brothers, vice chairman of the upazila Maulvi Zahir Uddin, lawyers Hamidul Haque and Nashir Uddin and former chairman of Greater Gorakhatta Union Parishad (UP) Shamsul Alam and Sadhan Dey. 5 people are in custody but Sadhan De is absconding.
According to the statement of the case, the then Zilla Parishad member and Jasad leader Khairul Amin Sikder (28) was shot dead by miscreants in Gorakghata market of Maheshkhali at around five o'clock in the afternoon on April 9, 1990. He is the son of Hamza Mia Sikdar of Gorakghata. Mahmudul Karim, the elder brother of Khairul Amin, who was killed on that day, filed a murder case against 25 people including former upazila chairman Nur Bux of Maheshkhali, Shamshul Alam of Putibila, Nasir Uddin, Hamidul Haque in police station.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police investigated the incident and filed a charge sheet against 26 people, including 25 accused, on November 22 of that year. On July 27, 2003, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge framed charges against the accused. Seven defendants died during the course of this case.
Lawyers said that 31 years ago, 28-year-old Khairul Amin Sikdar was publicly shot dead in Maheshkhali's Gorakghata market during the month of Ramzan. Of the 44 witnesses in the case, 34 have completed their testimony. This is a 31 year old case. Testimony began in 2002. Argument ended in 2021. Then the judgment was announced on Thursday.
Referring to the observation of the verdict, Additional Public Counsel (APP) of Cox's Bazar Additional District and Sessions Judge Court Sultanul Alam said that Khairul Amin was killed due to political dispute. The killers planned to kill Khairul Amin while sitting at Panoa Hotel in the city the night before the murder. Next day at 5 o'clock in the morning they crossed Maheshkhali by boat and killed Khairul Amin. The court said so in its observations.
Claiming that the state party is not fully satisfied with the verdict, APP also said that if the plaintiff of the case wants to go to the high court, then we will fight the case again. I have been fighting this case for 15 years. I want to go to the high court to discuss with the plaintiffs to confirm the death sentence of the accused who got life and the acquitted ones.
Mahamudul Karim, brother of Khairul Amin, the plaintiff in the case, said that Zaheer and Ibrahim have given a confessional statement in this case. Zaheer was sentenced but Ibrahim was acquitted. Besides, there are some other points in the judgment with which we are not satisfied. So I decided to go to the High Court in consultation with the lawyers after getting the full copy of the verdict.
