All 19 accused acquitted

Judge Abdul Matin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal, Barisal gave the acquittal order, as the charges brought against them were not proved.

Those who were acquitted are Mozahar Sardar, Azizul Haq Mollah, Biplob Mollah, Nuru Sikdar, Azizul Haq Sikdar, Razzak Sikdar, Sohel Sikdar, Jajil Jamaddar, Selim Sharif, Gias Faraji, Shipon Mollah, Babu Sharif, Hemayet Sardar, Mizan, Mizanur Rahman alias Sentu, Humayun Khalipha, Aminul Haq and Majid Khan.

Of them, five were present in the court during the delivery of the verdict while the rest are absconding.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 20 prosecution witnesses.

According to the prosecution, a group of 10 to 12 unknown miscreants killed Babu Lal Shil, former general secretary of Uzirpur Upazila Workers' party, when he along with his wife was talking to some workers in front of their house at about 8:00pm on July 16, 2004.

Later, the victim's brother filed a murder case with Uzirpur Police Station accusing the miscreants.

The investigation officer pressed charges against 19 including some outlawed party cadres on September 24 last year.