A Naogaon court on Monday sentenced 26 individuals to life imprisonment on charges of killing a man over land dispute in 1998.
Naogaon Additional District and Sessions Judge Court Judge Mohammad Mokhlesur Rahman delivered the verdict on Monday afternoon.
The court also fined the each convict Tk 20,000, in default, they will have to suffer more two months of rigorous imprisonment.
The convicts are Manchur Ali, Altab Hossain Mondal, Enamul Haque, Delwar Hossain, Fajer Ali, Fazlur Rahman, Kader Ali, Jobed Ali, Kazemuddin, Ahidul Islam (Rohidul), Achib Uddin, Anichar Rahman, Mokhleshur Rahman, Kashem Ali Mondal, Liaqat Ali Pramanik, Mokhleshur Rahman, Jalal, Mozaffar Ali, Shahjahan, Chaidur Rahman, Paikya (Bulu), Azad Ali Mrdha, Ashraful Mrdha, Kalimuddin Mondal, Patal alias Parash Ulya Pramanik and Gul Masud alias Kalu.
According to the case statement, the victim Azim Uddin, 55, was attacked with sticks and a sickle in Bharatta Shibnagar village under Manda upazila on December 2 of 1998 over a land dispute. He died on the spot.
Later, Azim Uddin's son, Amjad Hossain, filed a murder case in the same day.
The police investigated the case and submitted a charge sheet against 34 individuals, of whom eight have since died.
Following a lengthy trial and witness testimonies, the court found 26 accused guilty. Four of the convicts, including Mokhlesur Rahman, Enamul Haque, Anisur Rahman, and Mozahar, remain at large.
Public Prosecutor of the court Shamsur Rahman stated that justice has been served after 26 years, and this verdict aims to uphold justice in society.
