One to die, 9 get life term
Judge Mohammad Firoz Alam of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 handed down the sentence in presence of the convicts at a packed courtroom.
Two other accused in the case were acquitted.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The public prosecutor, however, rejected the verdict while victim's family members and relatives protested the acquittal of the prime accused and held agitation on the court premises.
The convict with death is Apple while Elias, Jewel alias Shakhawat Hossain Mollah, Hero, Rubel alias Shahadat Hossain, Zillur Rahman alias Masum, Momen, Azad, Humayun and Sagor were given life terms in jail.
Of them, Elias, Azad and Humayun were tried in absentia.
The punishment of the fugitives will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender, the judge said.
The court acquitted Ismail Hossain Mollah and Nurunnabi as the charges brought against them were not proved.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Nurul Iman Babul rejected the verdict and expressed his dissatisfaction over it saying that five eyewitnesses of the case told the court during trial that Ismail was present at the place of occurrence and that he masterminded the killing, then how could the court acquit him?
The victim's elder brother Brigadier General (retd) Kazi Mahmud Hassan and wife Shamima Nasrin told the journalists that Ismail was the prime accused in the case with specific allegations against him, adding that they would appeal to the higher court against the verdict.
Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 20 prosecution witnesses.
According to the prosecution, over a previous enmity a gang of miscreants directed by Ismail, his sons and some of their accomplices, killed Hashem in front of Red Crescent Society office adjacent to the office of Gazipur deputy commissioner on April 28, 2004.
A murder case was filed against Ismail and 11 others with Joydevpur Police Station the same day.
Meanwhile, rejecting the verdict, relatives and well-wishers of the victim brought out a procession in Gazipur in the evening.