KHULNA, July 26, 2026 (BSS) - A Khulna court today sentenced five people to life imprisonment for killing a visually impaired elderly woman during a robbery in Dighalia upazila in 2011.

Judge Md Khurshid Alam of the Additional District and Sessions Judge's Fourth Court also fined each convict Tk 20,000. They will have to serve an additional three months in prison if they fail to pay the fine, court bench assistant Md Shah Alam said.

The convicts are Anowara Begum, her son Ismail Sheikh alias Babu, her son-in-law Shamim Sheikh, Raju alias Raju Munshi and Ilias Sheikh.

Anowara, Ismail and Shamim are residents of Southpara in Dighalia. Raju is from Maheshwarpasha in Khulna city, while Ilias is from Deyara Uttarpara in Terokhada upazila.

Shamim and Anowara were present in court when the verdict was delivered. The other three are absconding. The court issued arrest warrants against them.

According to the prosecution, on July 19, 2011, Nasiruzzaman left his visually impaired mother, Rashida Begum, at home while he went out with other family members.

Taking advantage of their absence, a group of robbers entered the house. When Rashida realised that intruders had entered, they slit her throat with a sharp weapon and fled with Tk 20,000 in cash and gold ornaments.

Heavy rain delayed the family's return. When Rashida did not respond, Nasiruzzaman and neighbours entered the house through the back door and found her body under a bed.

Nasiruzzaman filed a murder case against unidentified people with Dighalia Police Station on July 20, 2011.

After investigation, Sub-Inspector Asaduzzaman of Dighalia Police Station submitted a charge sheet against the five accused on March 12, 2013.

Public Prosecutor ATM Moniruzzaman said police recovered a sandal from the crime scene, which led to Shamim's arrest.

Investigators later found that Shamim had worked as a domestic helper at the victim's house and allegedly informed the other accused about the family's movements. This helped them carry out the robbery and murder, the prosecutor said.

Police later arrested the other accused, he added.