Fugitive Condemned to Death Arrested in Jhalakathi

A fugitive death-row convict who had been on the run for nearly 17 years was arrested by police in Jhalakathi’s Nalchiti upazila on Thursday night after sneaking back to his village to celebrate Eid.

The arrestee has been identified as Taijul Islam Raju, 25, son of Ayub Ali from the Sarmahal area under Kushangal union.

Acting on a confidential tip-off that a high-profile fugitive had secretly returned home for the Eid holidays, a specialized team from the Nalchiti Police Station—led by Sub-Inspector Akter Hossain, alongside Assistant Sub-Inspectors Solaiman and Nazmul Islam—staged an overnight ambush. Sensing the police presence, Raju attempted to flee into the darkness but was intercepted and arrested in an agricultural field adjacent to his home.

Raju was a primary accused in a double murder case registered with Daulatpur Police Station in Khulna on January 4, 2009. Following a lengthy trial, the court found him guilty of the killings and handed down the death sentence. Raju had evaded law enforcement and remained in hiding ever since the verdict was pronounced.

Nalchiti Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ariful Alam confirmed the arrest, stating that the long-standing warrant has finally been executed. "Taijul Islam Raju, a condemned convict sentenced to death for a double murder in Khulna, was successfully apprehended during a targeted holiday raid. He has since been produced before the learned court and sent to district jail to face execution of his sentence," OC Alam said.

The unexpected capture of the long-term fugitive has drawn considerable attention and relief from residents across the Kushangal locality.