Those to die are Saidur Rahman Shahid, Commissioner of Ward-83 the Dhaka City Corporation, and 'Kala' Jahangir, a listed criminal.

Shahid is in jail custody while Jahangir is absconding.

Three others have been acquitted of the charges.

Shahed Noor Uddin, Judge of the Speedy Trial Tribunal 1, Dhaka Division, delivered the 36-page judgement yesterday in a jam-packed courtroom amid heavy security. The tribunal completed hearing of the case in 135 working days.

Those awarded life term are Tonai Mollah, Nurul Haq, Abdul Malek Apu alias Chakma Apu, 'Pichchi' Hannan alias Hannan, 'Kala' Sharif, Mohammad Rahman, Sentu, Akhter Hossain, Alamgir alias 'Bhezal' Alamgir, Kachi, Biplob and 'Dakat' Shahid. Four of them--Abdul Malek, Rahman, Akhter Hossain and Alamgir alias 'Bhezal' Alamgir-- are in jail custody while nine others are absconding. Those acquitted-- Wali Mohammad, Shahin and Deen Islam alias Dila -- are also absconding.

The convicts can appeal to the High Court within seven days.

Ward Commissioner Shahid and the four others in jail custody were brought to the court at 12:30 pm under tight security.

The judge took his seat at 12:35 pm and read out important portions of the judgement in 10 minutes.

On hearing the verdict, Shahid remained calm in the dock. He claimed he was in America when the murder took place. Moreover, some prosecution witnesses in the case gave motivated statements against him because they are accused in Kamal (his nephew) murder case, he added.

The other convicts also looked calm and did not make any comment on the judgement.

In the verdict, the judge observed the victim's first duty was to give legal aid to the litigants. But the killers did not give him any chance to do this any more. This verdict would be an example before others not to commit such offences in future, he noted.

Habibur Rahman Mondol, 44, was gunned down at Chandra Mohon Basak Lane at Banogram in Old Dhaka on August 20,2000.

But Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, the then officer-in-charge (OC) of the Sutrapur Police Station and investigation officer of the case, submitted a 'final report' on June 6, 2001 stating that the allegations against any of the accused were not proved.

Upon a naraji (no-confidence) petition filed by the complainant on June 19, 2001, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka, ordered further investigation into the case by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID submitted charge sheet against Shahid and 17 others on November 4 last year.

The tribunal framed charges against Shahid and the others on January 9 this year.

Trial of the case began on January 17 and 27 prosecution witnesses out of 46 were cross- examined.

Special public prosecutors (PPs) in the case Nazrul Islam and Abdul Latif Talukder said they were satisfied with the judgement.

Lawyers of Shahid said they would appeal to the High Court against the Judgement.

Advocates Mahbub Ahmed, Saidur Rahman Manik, Emdadul Haq Lal and Jakaria defended the accused.

Additional police forces were deployed on the court premises to avert any untoward incident. All the collapsible gates of the court were closed at 9:00 am and lawyers, Journalists and others were checked before they were allowed to enter the court.

Earlier, a group of people raised slogans on the court premises for release of Shahid and another group chanted slogans for his execution. At one stage, a clash broke out between the two groups. Police charged batons on them to bring the situation under control and arrested four persons. They are Selim, Shahjahan, Kabir and Shahid. Later, Selim and Shahjahan were released.