BANGLADESH

A speedy trial tribunal has passed capital punishment on one Zahidul Haque Rintu for murdering his niece Sadia Naoshin Priyanka, a class XII student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.

Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 judge Mohammad Motaher Hossain delivered the verdict on Sunday.

According to case details, the convict had strangulated Priyanka, 17, with a scarf sometime between 10:30am and 11:45am on July 18, 2007. The girl was murdered at her home: 536/1 Peyarbagh Noyartol.

According to details, Rintu, who stayed with his brother's family, regularly abused Priyanka sexually. After the victim's father learnt of the crime, he threw Rintu out of the house.

An irate Rintu, according to the complainant, threatened to kill the family. On July 18, he found Priyanka alone at home and strangulated her.

Priyanka's father Mohammad Sultan Faruk, an accountant with Border Guard Bangladesh, filed a murder case with Ramna police the following day.

Police submitted the chargesheet on June 27, 2009, making Rintu, then 28, the lone accused.

On Sunday's Priyanka's parents expressed satisfaction over the verdict.

Special public prosecutor S M Rafiqul Islam and former special public prosecutor Sarkar Shahidul Islam took part in the hearing on behalf of the state.

Testimonies of 26 people were taken during course of the trial.