Rajshahi Correspondent:

A court in Rajshahi has sentenced three individuals to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of college student Ashik Islam during a clash over firecrackers ahead of Eid.

The convicts were fined Tk 20,000 each and face an additional six months in jail if the fines are not paid.

The verdict was announced on Monday (July 21) afternoon by Judge Moha. Mahiduzzaman of Rajshahi Rapid Trial Tribunal.

The convicted are Ashik Ali—friend and main accused—along with his father Kalam Ali and elder brother Arif Ali from Dalipara village under Charghat upazila.

According to Munshi Abul Kalam Azad, public prosecutor of the tribunal, on the night before Eid in July 2021, Ashik Islam and his friends went to Kakramari market to buy firecrackers. On their way back, Ashik Ali playfully took three firecrackers from them and ran off.

Later around 10 PM, Ashik Islam and his friends went to Ashik Ali’s house at Chandan Shahar village to recover the firecrackers. A verbal argument escalated into a clash involving both parties. Both Ashik Ali and Ashik Islam were injured, but Ashik Islam died on the way to the hospital.

Ashik Islam’s father filed a case with Charghat Police Station, leading to today’s verdict.

The court acquitted the convict’s mother, Arifa Begum. The accused were present during the verdict and have been sent to jail.