Moulvibazar Correspondent //

Representative image. The verdict has been announced following a lengthy trial regarding the sensational murder of Md. Azizul Mia, which took place in 2013 in Muniarpar village under Fatehpur Union, Rajnagar Upazila, Moulvibazar.

The court sentenced two of the accused to death and two others to life imprisonment.

Fahmida Khatun, the learned judge of the Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-1, delivered the verdict yesterday, Thursday (September 17), at noon.

The deceased, Md. Azizul Mia (45), was a father of two sons and two daughters and was known in the area as a *Panchayat* arbitrator (local mediator). In 2013, the accused party, dissatisfied with a village arbitration proceeding, launched a coordinated attack on him. He subsequently passed away while undergoing treatment.

Following the incident, the victim’s wife, Rabeya Begum, filed a murder case at Rajnagar Police Station (GR Case No. 95/2013; Sessions Case No. 41/2014; under Sections 302/34 of the Penal Code). The court delivered this verdict after a long process involving the examination of evidence and legal proceedings.

Rubel Mia and Ruman Mia (two brothers) from the same village were sentenced to death for their direct involvement in the murder. Two other accused from the same village—Zoynal Abedin and Ripon Mia—were sentenced to life imprisonment for abetting the crime. The learned judge acquitted four other accused individuals from the same village—Swapan Mia, Jahir Mia, Kamru Mia, and Foysal Mia—finding them innocent as they were not involved in the incident. Regarding the convicted individuals, all except Rubel Mia and Swapan Mia were present in court when the verdict was announced.

Court sources stated that, with the exception of Rubel Mia and Swapan Mia, the other convicted individuals were present in court at the time the verdict was delivered. Following the announcement of the verdict, lawyers and relatives of the accused stated that they would appeal the decision in a higher court and continue the legal battle.

Conversely, the plaintiff, the prosecution, and their respective lawyers and relatives expressed satisfaction with the verdict. Advocate Dr. Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Public Prosecutor (PP) of the Moulvibazar District and Sessions Judge Court, and Advocate Md. Abdul Wahid, the Additional PP, expressed their satisfaction, stating, “Punishing the actual perpetrators will further strengthen public confidence in and respect for the law, including among the plaintiffs. Criminals will realize that committing a crime does not allow one to escape legal punishment.”

Describing the verdict in this high-profile case as a highly positive step toward upholding the rule of law, they expressed strong confidence that the sentence would be upheld by the higher court.

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