13 indicted for Rajon killing

A Sylhet court yesterday framed charges against 13 people, including prime accused Kamrul Islam, in a case filed for the brutal murder of teenage boy Samiul Islam Rajon in July.

Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge Akbor Hossain Mridha passed the order.

The trial would begin on October 1 with recording of witness statements, Rajon's father Azizur Rahman told The Daily Star.

Kamrul fled to Saudi Arabia soon after the murder. He was later detained by Saudi police. Bangladesh government is using diplomatic channels to bring him back.

Golam Moshi, Bangladesh ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told BBC Bangla Service last night that they were hoping to get Kamrul back after the end of the ongoing Hajj formalities.

The other charge-sheeted accused in the case are Muhit Alam, Ali Haider, Nurul Amin, Dulal Ahmed, Nur Mia, Ayaz Ali, Tajuddin Ahmed alias Badal, Firoz Ali, Shamim, Ruhul Amin alias Moyna, Pavel and Asmat Ali.

Charges were framed against Muhit Alam, Moyna, Shamim and Badal also for their alleged involvement in trying to hide the body of Rajon, said Sawkat Chowdhury, counsel for the victim's father.

After yesterday's hearing, Mafur Ali, a prosecutor at the court, said statements of the witnesses would be recorded on different dates in October.

On August 16, Investigation Officer Suranjit Talukder, also an inspector of the Detective Branch of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, submitted the charge sheet to the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Shahedul Karim, accusing the 13 people and showing 38 others as witnesses.

Three accused, including Kamrul, were shown absconding while the others arrested.

On July 8, thirteen-year-old Rajon was beaten to death by Kamrul and several other brutes in Kumargaon Bus Stand area of Sylhet Sadar upazila.

One of the accused recorded the incident and shared it on social media. The sickening torture video shook the nation to its core and stirred outcries in the social network as well as the mainstream media.

The murder case was filed with Jalalabad Police Station on the night of July 8.