The Additional District and Sessions Judge of Bagerhat Mohammad Golam Rabbani also fined the convicts Tk 10,000 each, in default of which they are to serve one more year of rigorous imprisonment

The convicts are Zafar Shaikh, Alal Sardar, Imdadul, Nasir Shaikh, Faru Shaikh, Kabir Sardar, Hasaul Shaikh, Wahab, Mozam, Halim, Salam, Mobarak, Kabir, Zia Sardar, Shihab and Mozaffar. Five of them are absconding.

The prosecution story in brief said fish trader Abu Bakar Shaikh, 45, was stabbed to death by the accused on the afternoon of September 19, 1999, after he was summoned to the murder spot at Chila village on the pretext of settling a dispute over a shrimp enclosure.

Victim's uncle Abul Bashar lodged an FIR with Mongla thana on the following day. The chargesheet against the accused was submitted on August 4, 2000.