Additional District Judge SM Kuddus Zaman also fined the convicts Tk 5,000 each in default of which they are to serve six more months of rigorous imprisonment.

The six convicts are Muzahar Howladar, Shahjahan Howladar, Panna Howladar, Shoraf Talukdar, Badal Talukdar and Munsef Talukdar.

Panna Howlader and Shoraf Talukder have been absconding since the murder on July 7, 1997.

According to the prosecution, Abdur Rouf alias Ripon of village Laksmankathi under Gouranadi Upazila was called out from his house and then murdered by the assailants. His body was later recovered from a canal in the neighbouring Uzirpur upazila.

Victim's mother Farida Begum filed a case against 12 people. After examining 19 witnesses, the court found six of the accused guilty and acquitted six others.