Hussain Shaheed Ahmad, judge of the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, gave the verdict in a crowded courtroom at 12:34pm in presence of the convict Kazi Mahbub Uddin Ahmad.

The court also fined him Tk 50,000. He will have to serve another two-year rigorous imprisonment if he fails to pay the sum.

The court sentenced his domestic help Mohammad Belal to five years imprisonment for his involvement in destroying the evidence of the crime. But the court ordered to release Belal as he has been in custody for more than five years.

"I think the punishment of imprisonment for life given to Mahbub is sufficient to meet the demand of justice in this case," the judge said.

"Mahbub had a strained relation with his wife Nilufer Rashid and he strangled her," the judgement observed.

Nilufer, 25, a meritorious law student of Dhaka University and daughter of a retired judge, was killed at her husband's North Bashabo residence on December 2, 1992.

The marriage took place in 1978. Nilufer was then a student of law, and her husband an engineer and contractor. Their only son Shouma is now 20 years old.

Mahbub filed a murder case with Sabujbagh Police Station, accusing domestic help Belal on the day Nilufer was found dead at their North Bashabo residence.

Harun-or-Rashid Khan, father of the victim, also filed a written complaint with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court during the investigation of Mahbub's case.

Belal gave a confessional statement before a metropolitan magistrate after being pressurised by Mahbub. But his statement was retracted later and Belal divulged the truth regarding the crime to the magistrate.

Police submitted a final report on April 12, 1995. Meanwhile, the complaint filed with the CMM's court was revived as a case with the same police station. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was directed to probe the matter.

The CID submitted a charge sheet against Mahbub and Belal on April 22, 1995. Both the prosecution and the defence completed their argument on August 27. The court framed charges against the two on January 1, 1997 and the trial began on June 14, 1998.

Sixteen out of the 24 prosecution witnesses were cross-examined during the trial. The court also recorded the statements of seven defence witnesses.

After the conviction, Mahbub was sent to Dhaka Central Jail, while Belal was allowed to go on his own bond.

Mahbub threatened the photojournalists taking snaps when he was being taken to the prison.

Jalalur Rashid, the victim's elder brother, expressed his satisfaction with the judgement, though he would prefer the death penalty.

"My father could not hear the judgement as he died on July 10 this year," he sighed.

Anjuman Ara Rashid, Nilufer's mother, is seriously sick and is not in a position to talk.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Jahanara Begum and Advocate Prakash Ranjan Biswas appeared for the state and advocates ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul and Abu Syed Sagar defended the accused.