10 years’ imprisonment for Faisal Karim

A court in Dhaka has sentenced Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Rahul and Daud, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case filed under the Arms Act. Faisal Karim is the prime accused in the murder case of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, convener of the Inqilab Mancha.

The verdict was delivered by Mahmudul Mohsin, Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka on Thursday afternoon. The court had fixed Thursday for the verdict after concluding arguments in the case last Sunday.

As Faisal Karim remains absconding, the court has issued an arrest warrant against him.

According to the case statement, members of Rapid Action Battalion-2 conducted a raid on November 7, 2024, at a flat in the Baitul Aman Housing Society area of Adabor in Dhaka. During the operation, Faisal Karim was detained while allegedly attempting to flee.

A search of the residence led to the recovery of a foreign-made pistol along with four rounds of ammunition.

The following day, RAB Havildar Moshiur Rahman filed a case against Faisal Karim under the Arms Act with Adabor Police Station.

According to the charges, Faisal Karim is a known armed criminal in the area, allegedly involved in extortion, drug trading and organised criminal activities. The case also alleges that he led a group engaged in extortion, murder, assault and land grabbing, and kept illegal firearms to carry out such crimes.

After completing the investigation, Sub-Inspector Zahid Hasan of Adabor Police Station submitted the charge sheet to the court on March 28 last year. During the trial, the court recorded testimonies from 13 of the 14 listed witnesses.

Faisal Karim had remained on bail in the case until November 17 last year. However, he has not been seen publicly since the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. Reports say he was arrested in India last month.