In the high-profile case of Taslima Begum Renu's lynching, a Dhaka court sentenced Ibrahim alias Hridoy Molla to death for his role in the brutal killing of Renu, who was falsely accused of child abduction in North Badda in 2019.
Additionally, four others—Ria Begum Maina, Abul Kalam Azad, Kamal Hossain, and Asadul Islam—were sentenced to life imprisonment. Each of the convicted was also fined Tk 1 lakh. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional year of imprisonment.
The verdict was announced by Judge Murshid Ahmed of Dhaka's Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court on Wednesday (October 9).
On the other hand, seven individuals—Shaheen, Bachchu Mia, Md. Bappi, Murad Mia, Sohel Rana, Bellal Molla, Md Raju, and Mohin Uddin—were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
The case dates back to July 20, 2019, when Renu was attacked by a mob in North Badda, accused of abducting children. Severely injured, she was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where she was declared dead. That same day, Renu’s nephew, Nasir Uddin, filed a murder case at Badda Police Station against 400-500 unidentified people.
On September 10, 2020, DB Police Inspector Abdul Haque submitted a charge sheet against 15 people. Charges were framed against 13 of them on April 1, 2021. Over the course of the trial, 19 out of 36 witnesses testified.
Of the 15 accused, two—Zafar Hossain Patwari and Wasim Ahmed—are being tried separately in juvenile court.
Renu's children not happy with verdict
Renu's children, son Ta-Seen Al Mahir and daughter Tasmin Mahira Tuba, expressed disappointment, as they had hoped for the death penalty for all the accused.
Following the verdict, Ta-Seen Al Mahir said, "We have been waiting for this verdict. We expected the maximum punishment for all the accused. But we are not satisfied with this outcome."