Casepin
Back to cases

Case file

Murder of Sheikh Mohammad Samiul Alam Rajon

SOLVED2015Sylhet, Bangladesh3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On July 8, 2015, in Sylhet, Bangladesh, 13-year-old Sheikh Mohammad Samiul Alam Rajon was accused by a group of men of stealing a bike. He was subsequently tied up, lashed, tortured, and beaten to death. Local police stated that Rajon died as a result of internal bleeding caused by the assault.

Among those suspected of carrying out the killing was Kamrul Islam, an individual who had previously been deported from Saudi Arabia. Following the killing, Islam fled back to Saudi Arabia. A three-member Bangladeshi police team subsequently coordinated with INTERPOL to locate and capture him there. Another individual, Nur Ahmed, was reported to have filmed the killing and circulated the footage on social media. A 28-minute video of the attack was posted online, which quickly drew widespread public outrage both locally in Sylhet and across Bangladesh.

The public reaction to the killing was significant. A "Justice for Rajon" movement formed, calling for swift justice for those responsible. Petitions seeking to raise funds for Rajon's family circulated, with some receiving more than 11,000 signatures. This public pressure, combined with concern over a series of child murders occurring around the same period, was linked to a comparatively rapid judicial process in the case.

On September 22, 2015, the Court of Sylhet charged thirteen individuals in connection with the killing, on counts including murder and assistance in murder. The individuals charged were Kamrul Islam, Firoz Mia, Shamim Alam, Quamrul Islam, Muhit Alam, Ali Haider, Moyna Mia, Nur Ahmed, Dulal Ahmed, Ayaz Ali, Taz Uddin Badal, Asmat Ali, Pavel Islam, and Ruhul Amin. Kamrul Islam was identified as the prime defendant in the case.

A verdict was announced approximately four months after the killing, with four of the accused sentenced to execution for their roles in Rajon's death. Judge Shahedul Karim, who had ordered the charges against the thirteen accused, requested that Bangladeshi publications release images of three of the accused — Kamrul Islam, Shamim Ahmed, and Pavel Islam — to assist in their identification and capture. Kamrul Islam, who had fled to Saudi Arabia after the killing, was ultimately arrested by police in Jeddah.

Key facts

Victims
Sheikh Mohammad Samiul Alam Rajon
Date
2015
Location
Sylhet, Bangladesh
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2015-07-08

    Sheikh Mohammad Samiul Alam Rajon, 13, is tortured and beaten to death in Sylhet, Bangladesh, after being accused of theft. Footage of the attack is later posted on social media.

  2. 2015-09-22

    The Court of Sylhet charges thirteen individuals with murder, assistance in murder, and related offenses in connection with Rajon's killing.

  3. 2015-11

    A verdict is announced roughly four months after the killing; four defendants are sentenced to execution.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Muhit Alam

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Dulal Ahmed

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Firoz Mia

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Pavel Islam

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses; one of three accused whose images the judge asked to be published.

  • Moyna Mia

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Shamim Alam

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses; also identified as Shamim Ahmed, one of three accused whose images the judge asked to be published.

  • Sheikh Mohammad Samiul Alam Rajon

    VICTIM

    13-year-old boy tortured and beaten to death in Sylhet, Bangladesh, on July 8, 2015, after being accused of theft.

  • Taz Uddin Badal

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Nur Ahmed

    CHARGED

    Charged in connection with the killing; reported to have filmed the attack and circulated the footage on social media.

  • Asmat Ali

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Ayaz Ali

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Shahedul Karim

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Judge who ordered the charges against the thirteen accused and requested publication of images of three suspects to aid their capture.

  • Ali Haider

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Kamrul Islam

    CONVICTED

    Identified as the prime defendant; charged with murder, sentenced to execution, and arrested in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after fleeing there following the killing.

  • Quamrul Islam

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

  • Ruhul Amin

    CHARGED

    One of thirteen individuals charged by the Court of Sylhet on September 22, 2015, with murder and related offenses.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Sylhet, Bangladesh

24.8949, 91.8687

View on the map

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
A 13-year-old boy, Sheikh Mohammad Samiul Alam Rajon, was tortured and beaten to death by a group of men in Sylhet, Bangladesh, on July 8, 2015, after being accused of theft. The attack was filmed and posted online, sparking nationwide outrage and a swift trial that led to convictions and death sentences for the men found responsible.
Where did the murder happen?
Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Who was convicted?
Kamrul Islam (Identified as the prime defendant; charged with murder, sentenced to execution, and arrested in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after fleeing there following the killing.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Bangladesh

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Sheikh Mohammad Samiul Alam RajonWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — BBC NewsBBC News · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — aljazeera.comaljazeera.com · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026