Dhaka – The High Court Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday reduced the death sentence given to two convicts of child Rakib Hawlader murder case to life term imprisonment.A High Court bench comprising Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice M Jahangir Hossain passed the order Tuesday morning, after hearing on the death reference and appeals of the convicts. The court also fined them Tk 50,000 each.
On 29 March, the apex court fixed yesterday to deliver the verdict in the case. The court started the hearing on the death reference and appeals of the convicts in the case on 10 January last.
On 8 November 2015, Khulna Metropolitan Magistrate Court pronounced the verdict giving death sentence to two persons for killing Rakib, by blowing air into his rectum. The victims are Omar Sharif and Mintu.
On 3 August 2015, Rakib's former employer Md Sharif and his uncle Mintu Mia undressed the boy, inserted a high-pressure air pump nozzle into his rectum and pumped air into it. Rakib's intestines tore apart and lungs burst as air filled the abdomen, and he died.
The death reference in the Rakib killing case was sent to the High Court for approval on November 10, 2015. Later, the convicts filed appeal with the apex court against the verdict of the subordinate court.
Later, Chief Justice SK Sinha asked the High Court Division to prepare the paper-book of the case on priority basis. – Staff Reporter
