3 to die for killing schoolboy in Panchagarh

A court in Panchagarh on Monday sentenced three individuals to death for killing a school student after abducting him in 2015.

Judge S.M. Rezaul Bari of Panchagarh Additional District and Sessions Judge Court delivered the verdict against Nuruzzaman, 38, from Bolrampur Tati Para village in Debiganj upazila, Farhad Hossain, 30, from Dahenapara village and Hasanul Islam, 32, from Bolrampur village. Of the convicts, Nuruzzaman and Hasanul are currently absconding.

According to the case statement, the victim Asaduzzaman Payel, of Bolrampur Tati Para village in Chilahati union of Debiganj upazila, went missing on the night of June 18, 2015. Four days later, his body was discovered wrapped in a sack in a nearby pond, approximately one kilometer from his home. 

Payel's father, Sultan Ali, filed a case with Debiganj Police Station shortly after the discovery.

The case statement also described that around 24 hours after Payel's disappearance, his mobile phone rang at his home where a caller with a distorted voice demanded a ransom of Tk three lakh for Payel's release, but did not provide any details on where to deliver the money. 

Subsequent investigations linked the three convicted individuals to the abduction. During local questioning, they confessed to the murder and based on their information, Payel's body was recovered from the pond. 

On August 31 of the same year, police filed a charge sheet and the trial commenced.

Public Prosecutor Jahangir Alam confirmed the verdict, stating that the prosecution was able to prove the defendants' guilt in court, leading to the judge's decision. He expressed satisfaction on behalf of the victim's family, who had long awaited justice.