The High Court has upheld the death sentence of 5 accused in the murder case of Kushtia van puller Abu Bakar Siddique. Among the 6 accused, the apex court reduced death sentence of one to life imprisonment.
After hearing the death reference and appeal to approve the death penalty, High Court bench consisting Judge Sheikh Md. Zakir Hossain and Justice AKM Zahirul Haque passed the verdict.
Deputy Attorney General Amit Dasgupta represented the state in the court. Lawyers SM Shahjahan and AKM Fazlul Haque Khan Farid appeared for the accused. Md. State-appointed lawyer was on behalf of a fugitive accused Hafizur Rahman Khan.

Van puller Abu Bakkar Siddique of Jotpara village of Ziarkhi Union of Kushtia Sadar Upazila left his van at home on the evening of June 10, 2012 and went to a tea shop nearby his home. At around 10 pm, the accused called Abu Bakar and took him to the adjacent field and brutally killed him by cutting his throat and penis with sharp weapons.
Police recovered the body from Jotpara Kanchikhali field around 7 am the next day.
On February 7, 2017, the Additional District and Sessions Judge first court Kushtia awarded death sentence to 6 accused in the case. The convicts are Sajjad, Majed, Shukchad, Rashidul Islam, Kalai and Mancher Ali. Accused Rashidul Islam is absconding.
Later the death reference was sent to the High Court for approval of the death sentence as per rules.