A court in Kushtia on Monday sentenced four men to life imprisonment in connection with the 2019 murder of farmer Sahabul Islam Mondal in Mirpur upazila.

Kushtia District and Sessions Judge Court Judge Md Enayet Kabir Sarkar handed down the verdict on Monday.

The court also imposed a fine of Tk 20,000 on each of the convicts; in case of default, they will have to serve an additional year in prison.

The convicted are Asadul Pramanik, also known as Kalu, son of Mohin Pramanik of Miton Paschimpara village; Abu Taher, son of Moslem Mollah of the same village; Habil Hossain, son of Abul Kashem; and Milon, son of Omar Ali. Except for Abu Taher, the others were present in court when the verdict was announced.

According to court sources, Sahabul went missing on October 20, 2019, after going to the local market to do some shopping. The next morning, police recovered his body from the alley of a field in Nawda Azampur Mathpara of the upazila.

The prosecution said the murder stemmed from a local factional dispute. Allegedly attempting to implicate rivals, the accused conspired together and abducted Sahabul Islam Mondal and killed him.

Following the incident, the victim’s wife Sumi khatun filed a case at Mirpur Police Station against unidentified individuals.

During the investigation, Mirpur Police Station investigation officer Sub-Inspector SM Jabid Hasan arrested Asadul Pramanik, alias Kalu, based on suspicion outlined in the complaint.

During questioning, Kalu reportedly confessed to his involvement and named his alleged accomplices.

All four accused were later identified, and after completing the investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against them.