Judge Hussain Shaheed Ahmad of the Court of Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge cleared 10 others of the charges and blamed the acquittals on the neglect of investigation officers.

Abdul Kahar Akand, assistant superintendent of police of CID (Criminal Investigation Department), and Sub-Inspector Jalal Uddin probed the case but did not carry out the test of identification parade (TIP), blocking the proper conviction, the judge observed.

The judge also criticised Ahad's colleagues Sergeant Anwar, SI Moinuddin Ahmed, SI Mesbahuddin and Patrol Inspector Sahabuddin for neglect of duty.

He said the policemen, who were on duty at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel where Ahad was killed, could have fired blank shots or teargas canisters to scare the muggers off.

The judge dubbed the police officers as 'ineligible' for law enforcement and asked the authorities to consider his view.

The convicts with death penalty are Kangali Zakir and Taleb Hossain Rana, and Zakir Hossain popularly known as Kana Zakir was jailed for life.

The convicts can appeal to the High Court within seven days from the date of delivery of judgement against the verdict.

Zakir Hossain (2), Shahidul Islam, Syed Lal Miah, Abdul Aziz, Bachchu Bepari, Alauddin, Shah Alam, Nishan, Kabir and Abdur Rab were acquitted of the charges. Of them, only Rab has been evading arrest.

The on-trial prisoners were produced before court at noon and the judge took seat at 12:15pm and read out the highlights of the 59-page judgement in 45 minutes.

The convicts cried and protested innocence on hearing the judgement, while the acquitted broke into rapturous applause.

Both the prosecution and the defence wrapped up their arguments on November 3 after statements of 36 prosecution witnesses were recorded.

Sub-Inspector Mesbahuddin filed a murder case with Motijheel Police Station on October 28, 1999, the day Ahad was murdered.

The investigation officers pressed charges against 13 people on June 13, 2001, and the trial began on May 18 last year after the court framed charges against them on March 19, 2002.

Kangali Zakir, Zakir Hossain, Taleb Hossain, Bachchu Bepari and Abdul Aziz confessed to their part in the murder under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code on different dates of hearing, but the judge could not convict them.