A Faridpur court has sentenced five men to death for the 2019 murder of battery-run easybike driver Shawkat Molya, 20, in a case linked to a robbery.

Judge Md Maksudur Rahman of Faridpur Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-1 delivered the verdict around 1:30pm on Thursday (July 31). 

At this time the judge also fined each Tk20,000, if failed to pay another one year of simple imprisonment in default.

The condemned are Mehedi Abu Kawser, 25, Jony Mollaa, 30, Russel Sheikh, 25, Rajes Rabi Das, 29, and Robin Mollaa alias Vicky, 25. Among them, Russel is absconding while the others were present in court and later sent to jail under police custody.

Another accused, Badsha Sheikh, 31, of Majlispur in Rajbari, received 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, a Tk10,000 fine, and 10 months' simple imprisonment in default.

According to case statement, Shawkat Molya left home with his easybike on the afternoon of 14 November 2019 and did not return. His family began searching for him, and the next morning around 7am, police recovered his body from a paddy field beside the Bypass Road near Goalchamot Mollar Bari Road in Faridpur town.

Following the discovery, the victim’s father Ainal Sheikh filed a murder case with Faridpur Kotwali Police Station.

State prosecutor Advocate Chowdhury Zahid Hasan Khokon said the accused killed Shawkat to rob his easybike. After a lengthy trial and hearing of witnesses, the court delivered the verdict.

“We are satisfied with the judgment. The court has ensured justice. An arrest warrant has been issued for the absconding accused,” he added.

MSK/