2 get death, 3 life term in Bogura extortion case

BOGURA, Aug 31: A court in Bogura on Monday sentenced two people to death and three others to life imprisonment for killing businessman Ragibul Hasan Hridoy over refusal to pay extortion.

The court also fined each of the five convicts Tk 50,000. Half of the fine money will be given to Hridoy’s child, according to the verdict.

Additional District and Sessions Judge-5 Koushik Ahmed Khondkar pronounced the verdict around 11:30am. All the convicts were present in court.

The two condemned convicts are Saddam Hossain Swadhin and Md Rabbi. The three others sentenced to life imprisonment are Ashik, Shakil and Matin.

According to the case statement, the convicts demanded extortion money at Hridoy’s business establishment in the Kaipara Pukurpar area of Bogura city on July 20, 2021.

When Hridoy refused to pay, they entered the business premises and hacked him with sharp weapons.

His father, Mamunur Rashid, was also attacked when he tried to save his son. Hridoy later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Hridoy’s mother, Ayesha Siddika, filed the murder case.

After investigation and examination of witnesses, the court handed down the verdict against the five accused.

Public Prosecutor Masuda Rahman said the convicts brutally killed Hridoy after failing to get the extortion money.

“Based on the evidence and testimony, the court has sentenced all five accused. We demand speedy execution of the verdict,” she said.

Hridoy’s parents expressed satisfaction with the verdict.

His mother, Ayesha Siddika, said her only son was a Hafiz of the Quran.

“He was hacked with sharp weapons on the eve of Eid and died on Eid day. The following day, his wife gave birth to their child,” she said.

“We are grateful to Allah. We are satisfied with the verdict,” she added.