Expressing his gratitude to Allah, Shazneen's father Latifur Rahman said he, his family members, friends and well-wishers were happy with the verdict.

"I will not get back my daughter, but I hope the verdict will act as a deterrent to such crimes in future," he said.

He continued: "There will be crimes in society, but I will be very happy if this judgement can help stop killing of some children even for 10 days."

"I now look forward to seeing a quick execution of the verdict, and would expect a speedy disposal of the case if it is taken to the High Court and the Supreme Court," he said, expressing satisfaction over quick disposal of some cases and exemplary punishment to the criminals in the last 18 months.

But the verdict could not heal the deep wounds of Shazneen's mother Shahnaz Rahman. She broke down in tears as Judge Kazi Rahamat Ullah delivered the verdict in the packed courtroom of the Second Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression, Dhaka.

Since appearing in the courtroom, she silently waited for the verdict against the criminals who snuffed out the life of her daughter at the tender age of 15 years at their Gulshan residence on the night of April 23, 1998.

She left the court premises silently, without saying a word as if the death of her beloved daughter had taken away all her words.

Shazneen's sisters -- Simeen Hossain and Shazhreh Haq Shehzi -- remained close to their mother and were weeping all the time.

Simeen and Shehzi later said they had been waiting for this day for the last five years. This verdict will help lessen the unbearable agony of losing Shazneen, the two sisters said.

Shazneen's brother Reaz was overwhelmed. "I have no word to express my satisfaction," he said, wiping tears.

The judgement said the brutal crime has gone beyond the realm of fiction. It appears reality has surpassed imagination in brutality, the judgement observed.

"The verdict is a proper and timely one and will help prevent brutal crimes in society," said Special Public Prosecutor ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul.

A female lawyer, Sayema Khanam, noted that there was no way other than sentencing the six to death. "If the law did not award them death sentence for such a brutal crime, none of us would feel safe at our homes."

Meanwhile, hearing the verdict, Shahid, who raped and killed Shazneen, remained calm and declined to say anything.

"I will say to Allah what I have to say," said Syed Sajjad Mainuddin Hasan alias Azad, a contractor, who was found guilty of masterminding the rape and killing of Shazneen. Clad in shirt and trousers, he was sweating since the judge began to deliver the verdict.

Badal and Shaniram Mandal were muttering something at the time but refused to say anything when asked for comments.

Parvin started weeping and Estema Khatun Minu sat in despair.

Meanwhile, Shahid's lawyer MA Kamrul Hasan Khan Aslam alleged that the verdict failed to dig out the truth and did not reflect justice.

"We will go to the higher court as justice has not been meted out. The verdict is illogical," he claimed.

Lawyer of the five other accused, Mosharraf Hossain Kajal, alleged that the statements of the accused were not scrutinised separately. "No eyewitnesses or neutral witnesses were there, the statements of only hearsay witnesses, family members, relatives and employees of Latifur Rahman were recorded," he said.

"Punishment was given on the basis of the statement of one accused, Humayun, who died during trial. It appears from the judgement that only prosecution lawyers moved, while defence lawyers were absent," Kajal said.

"We will go to the higher court which, we hope, will deliver justice," he added.

Former advisor to the caretaker government Rokia A Rahman, President of International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman and Managing Director of Square Pharmaceuticals Tapan Chowdhury were, among others, present in the court during the pronouncement of the verdict.