DHAKA, Sept 6, 2026 (BSS) - The High Court today upheld death sentences handed down by a lower court to two convicted operatives of outlawed Jamaatul Mujahadeen (JMB) as they were found guilty of murdering a shrine custodian in Rangpur over a decade ago.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Sathika Hossain endorsed the death penalty of the two operatives but acquitted five others who too were handed down the capital punishment over the 2015 killing of 60-year-old shrine caretaker Rahmat Ali.

A special court in Rangpur had sentenced to death the seven JMB operatives in 2018 three years after the murder of Ali while after the death reference and appeal hearing the High Court endorsed the capital punishment of Masud Rana and Liton Mia.

Ishaq Ali, Sakhawat Hossain alias Rahul, Sarwar Hossain Sabu alias Mizan, Bijoy alias Ali alias Darji, JMB’s northern region commander, and Chandu Mia are the five who were acquitted by the High Court. 

Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokon, senior advocate S M Shahjahan Hossain, advocates Atikul Islam Selim and Shafik and Barrister Anwar Hossain appeared for the accused while Assistant Attorney General Al Amin Siddiqui represented the state.

The assailants on November 10, 2015 murdered Ali, slitting his throat, at Chaitar Mor at Kaunia upazila of Rangpur.

Ali’s son Shafiqul Islam filed a murder case with Kaunia Police Station on the next day and after the trial, Special Judge of Rangpur Naresh Chandra Sarkar sentenced the seven to death on March 18, 2018 and acquitted six others.