A dreadful convict who was sentenced to death for brutally killing a father and his son back in 1993 at Keraniganj in the capital has been arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
The RAB-10 personnel arrested 52-year-old Arif alias Shariful Islam from Siddhirganj in Narayanganj on Thursday (November 30) night after long 30 years.
RAB said both the father and his son was brutally hacked to death at a frocery shop at Barishur Bazar at Malopara in Keraniganj on July 13, 1993. Following the trial of the case, a Dhaka court awarded five accused including Arif 'double death sentences' for killing father and his son. In 2008, the High Court sent the case to the lower court for re-trial of the case.
Following all the judicial process, the lower court upheld the 'double death' sentences of five accused including Arif on September 19, 2018. As both Arif and Masud were absconding during the delivery of judgement, the court issued arrest warrant against them.
Subsequently, Arif was arrested from Siddhirganj in Narayanganj in sequel to strengthening the intelligence vigilance to arrest the absconding accused.
RAB's Legal and Media Wing's director Commander Khondker Al Moin stated it at a press conference held on Friday afternoon at the RAB Media Centre at Kawranbazar in the capital.
Narrating the case statement, he said victim Shariful had a grocery shop at Malopara Barishur in Keraniganj. As his shop was situated near the river, customers used to go to the shop late at night. His two sons -- Khokon (9-year old at that time) and Shahjahan (the then 12 years old) used to bring dinner from home and then got into sleep having meal with their father after finishing their lessons.
On that fateful night, Sharif was taking preparation to close the shutter of the shop after ending his daily business. His two sons were sleeping behind the shop. At one stage, arrested Arif and his associates went to the shop and took away cigarettes and other goods from the shop forcibly that led to an altercation. When they criminals tried to take away cash from the cash-box of the shop, Sharif intercepted them. Being angry, Arif and his accomplices started hacking Sharif indiscriminately with sharp weapons. Hearing his shouting, his two sons woke up and came hurriedly to save their father. They also pleaded to Arif and his associates to let his father go free.
But, they also injured the victim's two sons hacking with local made weapons indiscriminately. Then then left the place thinking that the father and his two sons had already died.
On the following morning, the locals went to the shop and found three bodies were lying inside. They instantly informed their the victim's eldest son. Rushing to the spot, the victim's eldest son saw that his father and younger brother Khokon had died and another brother Shahjahan was lying on the ground being critically injured. At that time, the victim's eldest son took Shahajahan to the hospital.
The RAB official said killer Arif went into hiding at different places including Barisal following the murder. Subsequently, he went to Siddhirganj in Narayanganj and made a national identity card with the name of Shariful Islam concealing his name and address. Then he started working at a galvanized corrugated sheets or 'dhew tin' making factory.
"Arif thought that he would be able to evade the arrest by making false NID card. At one stage, the 'dhew tin' making factory got closed and Arif started grocery and laundry business at Siddhirganj in Narayanganj introducing himself as Shariful," Commander Al-Moin said.
He said necessary legal measures would be taken against the arrested Arif.
