One to die, 2 get life for killing Journalist Utsho Rahman

A court in Rangpur has sentenced one person to death and two others to life imprisonment in the murder case of journalist Mashiur Rahman, also known as Utsho Rahman. However, the prime accused in the case, Zahirun Akter Jui alias Gedi, has been acquitted.

Rangpur Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mashiur Rahman Khan pronounced the verdict on Wednesday (September 2) afternoon.

The death sentence was handed down to Rubel alias Hekram, while Elin and Shuvo Kumar were sentenced to life imprisonment. None of the three convicts was present in court when the verdict was delivered, as they are absconding.

The verdict was confirmed by state counsel Advocate Abdul Hadi Belal and counsel for the plaintiff, Advocate Palash Kanti Nag.

According to case documents, journalist Utsho Rahman went to the office of the local daily Jugerer Alo in Rangpur on the evening of December 23, 2015. He did not return home that night. The following morning, police recovered his body from the Dharmadas area of the city, with his hands and feet tied to a tree.

Following the incident, the victim’s mother, Nurjahan Begum Nuri, filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station.

After investigating the case, police submitted a charge sheet against eight people. Charges were later framed against six of them and the trial began. Over the course of more than 10 years and nine months, the court recorded the testimony of 11 witnesses. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday after lawyers from both sides concluded their arguments.

However, the victim’s family and the plaintiff expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict. They alleged that Zahirun Akter Jui alias Gedi had been identified as a financial backer of the murder, but the court acquitted her.

Plaintiff Nurjahan Begum said they were not satisfied with the verdict and had been denied justice. She also said they would appeal against the verdict in the High Court.

Members of the journalist community also expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling. Mominul Islam Ripon, president of the Rangpur district unit of the Bangladesh Photojournalists Association, and Mahbub Rahman Habu, Rangpur bureau chief of Jugantor and editor of Amader Protidin, expressed disappointment.

They said questions had arisen over the judicial process after the alleged mastermind behind the killing was acquitted. They expressed hope that an appeal before the higher court would ensure justice for those responsible for masterminding the murder of journalist Utsho Rahman.