8 sentenced to death over Sylhet schoolboy Sumel murder

A court in Sylhet has sentenced eight people to death and handed life imprisonment to seven others in the murder case of schoolboy Sumel Ahmad Shukur in Bishwanath Upazila.

The verdict was announced on Wednesday by the Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Third Court. The family of the victim expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision.

According to Assistant Public Prosecutor Kamal Hossain, out of 34 accused, eight were sentenced to death, seven to life imprisonment, and the rest acquitted for lack of evidence.

The case dates back to May 1, 2021, when a land dispute in Chauldhani Haor led to an armed attack by a group led by Ibrahim Ali Sijil. Sumel, a tenth-grade student of Shahjalal High School, was shot during the attack and died in hospital. His father, uncle, and another person were also injured.

Following the incident, Sumel’s uncle filed a murder case naming 27 suspects. Police later filed charges against 32 people after an investigation.

The main accused, Saiful, has been in jail for over three years, while another suspect, Mamunur Rashid, is still on the run.