HC commutes death penalty of condemned convict

The High Court has commuted the death sentence of condemned convict Russell Miah, a student of Barisal University's Accounting Department, to life imprisonment in a case filed over the murder of its female Sawda Begum.

The court at the same time increased the fined amount of the convict from Tk 10,000 to 20,000. In default, he will have to suffer six months more in jail.

An HC bench of Justice Krishwna Debnath and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin pronounced the verdict.

Defence lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir said the court rejected the death reference and appeal plea of Rassel and commuted his sentence.

On June 1, 2015, a Barishal court gave death sentence to Rassel, resident of barguna, in the case.

Rassel hacked death Sawda, a first year student at Accounting Department of the same university, in September 5, 2013, as she refused his love proposal.

The victim's mother Shahida Begum filed a case with Kotwali Police Station the same day.

TF