Mother Salma Begum satisfied with Rayhan murder verdict in Sylhet, wants SI Akbar's death sentence carried out
Salma Begum, the mother of Rayhan Ahmed, has expressed satisfaction with the verdict in the case over her son's killing in police torture in Sylhet, in which the main accused, police sub-inspector (SI) Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan, was sentenced to death and five other accused were given different prison terms. But she said they would find real peace not just from the pronouncement of the verdict, but only when Akbar's death sentence is carried out.
Judge Abdul Majid Munshi of the Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court delivered the verdict at around 3:30pm on Thursday (October 29). Salma Begum was present in court when the verdict was announced.
Later, speaking to the media, Salma Begum said, “I am satisfied with the verdict. Now if the verdict is carried out by hanging the main accused Akbar Hossain, we will get peace. Rayhan's soul will also get peace.”
However, she expressed frustration that the accused in the case are absconding. Before the verdict, Salma Begum questioned how, during the Awami League government, not one person got bail, but in 2025, even after the arguments in the case had ended, the first three accused got bail and fled after getting bail. She said today's verdict would only be on paper, the accused were not being punished, and if the accused were not punished, her six years of waiting and suffering would go in vain.
Court sources said that among the six accused in the case, only police assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Asheq Elahi was present when the verdict was announced. The other five accused are absconding.
Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Mohammad Muminul Islam Momin said the court sentenced Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan to death among the six accused. Among the other five, constables Md Harun Or Rashid and Titu Chandra Das were given life imprisonment and fined Tk 100,000 each. In addition, police SI Md Hasan Uddin, ASI Asheq Elahi and journalist Abdullah Al Mamun were given seven years' imprisonment.
In an immediate reaction, the PP expressed the prosecution's satisfaction, saying they are initially satisfied with the verdict. However, a decision will be taken on whether to go to the higher court if necessary after reviewing the verdict.
