Two to die, 19 get life

They were convicted for killing Saidur Rahman alias Swapon Bakshi of Kaliakoir upazila in Gazipur district.

Judge Shahed Noor Uddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 handed down the sentence at a packed courtroom.

The court acquitted three others as the allegations brought against them were not proved.

A gang of miscreants led by Saijuddin and Ripon killed the victim following a previous enmity at Mouchak bus stand under Kaliakoir upazial at about 11:00am on March 12 last year when he along with his uncle Arpan Bakshi and brother Murad Bakshi was going to his father's-in-law house. Arpan and Murad were also seriously injured in the attack.

The convicts with death are Saijuddin, 38, and Ripon, 35 and while Harisuzzaman alias Haris, 36, Abdul Bareq, 35, Reazuddin, 35, Neon, 25, Hridoy, 28, Rassel, 26, Arif, 27, Mukul, 29, Khorshed Alam, 32, Rubel-1, 28, Sahajul, 38, Babulal Sarkar, 32, Abdul Latif, 38, Parvez, 32, Rubel-2, 31, Aziz, 20, Solaiman, 35, Tanvir, 35, and Monir Khan, 27, were given life in jail.

Three other former JCD leaders are Haris, Abdul Bareq and Reaz. Earlier, they were ousted from the posts for their anti-party activities, sources said.

Of them, Haris, Arif, Tanvir, Khorshed Alam, Sahajul, Rubel-2, Aziz and Solaiman were present in the court during the delivery of the verdict. The remaining were tried in absentia.

The convicts can appeal to the High Court against the verdict within 30 days from the day of receipt of the judgement copy and the punishment of the fugitives will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender, the court said.

Victim's wife Syeda Rokeya Bashar Rumi and brother Nazimuddin Bakshi were present in the court and expressed their satisfaction over the judgement.

Special Public Prosecutor Abdul Latif Talukder appeared for the state while advocates Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Shahjahan defended the accused.