A Natore court has sentenced four individuals to life imprisonment and fined them 1 million taka each for killing a van driver and stealing his vehicle. Another accused, Md. Shawkat Ali Mondal, received five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 taka, with an additional six months if the fine is not paid. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by Judge Md. Delowar Hossain of the Natore District and Sessions Judge Fourth Court.

The convicts are Shariful Islam, Majedul Mondal, Rana, and Liton alias Mithon Mondal. Among them, Rana remains absconding, and his sentence will take effect upon arrest. The court ordered that part of the fine be used for case expenses, with the remainder to be given to the plaintiff. The case originated from the 2018 murder of 16-year-old van driver Md. Pranto, whose body was found in a field in Bagatipara upazila after being hired by three men for a trip.

Police later arrested the accused, who confessed to their involvement. The verdict followed a lengthy trial based on witness testimony and evidence.