2 maids to die for ex-Eden College principal Mahfuza killing
The convicts were also given seven years of rigorous imprisonment and Tk25,000 in fines for stealing goods after the murder
A Dhaka court has sentenced two housemaids to death for the killing of former Eden Mohila College principal Mahfuza Chowdhury Parvin
They are Rita Akter alias Swapna and Ruma alias Reshma.
On Sunday, Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamruzzaman delivered the verdict after the two women were found guilty of strangling Mahfuza to death.
The convicts were also given seven years of rigorous imprisonment and Tk25,000 in fines for stealing goods after the murder.
In case they default on the fines, they will have to serve six more months in prison, the court said in its verdict.
Special Public Prosecutor of the court Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan said he was happy with the verdict.
The convicts can appeal to the High Court within 30 days after the pronouncement of the verdict, he said.
Defence lawyer Matiur Rahman expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict, saying the convicts were not involved in the incident and had been chargesheeted falsely.
The two women are innocent, he said.
"The investigation was not proper, and the verdict has aggrieved us. The convicts did not get justice. We will file an appeal with the High Court. We hope we will get justice there and that the convicts will be acquitted," Matiur added.
Mahfuza was killed in her Elephant Road residence in the capital on February 11 last year. Her husband Ismat Kadir Gama later filed a case in this connection.
After the case was filed, police remanded Swapna, Reshma and Runu Begum. Runu had found the job at Mahfuza's house for Swapna and Reshma.
Swapna and Reshma later confessed to the killing.
On July 21 last year, Investigating Officer Alamgir Hossain Majumder, sub-inspector of New Market Police Station, submitted the charge sheet accusing Swapna and Reshma of the crime.
He also petitioned for Runu's acquittal as her involvement in the crime was not found.
The court on February 9 this year framed charges against the two housemaids.
Mahfuza had been the principal at Eden Mohila College from 2009 to 2012.
