Additional District and Sessions Judge-2 of Naogaon SM Solaiman handed down the verdict in a crowded courtroom on Thursday.

Of the convicts, Abdul Mazid, 30, son of late Nazir Uddin of Chalk Mukterpur village under Naogaon Sadar upazila, was awarded death penalty in his absentia.

Hasen Ali, 45, Vimpur Union Parishad chairman under Mohadevpur upazila and Shamsul Islam, 40, of the same upazila were given life.

They were also fined Tk 15,000 each, in default, to suffer one year more RI.

Another accused Harunur Rashid, 50, of Narayanpur village was sentenced to 10-year RI and fined Tk 5,000, in default, to suffer six months more RI.

The court also exempted Fazlur Rahman, another accused, from the case as he died earlier.

The prosecution story in brief is that the convicts kidnapped Azimuddin, 32, from his business firm at around 7:30 pm on June 3 in 1995 and took him to an unknown place.

Police recovered his body from Mohimapur village under Patnitola upazila next day.

Victim's elder brother Amzad Hossain Mondal lodged a case with Patnitola police.

Police submitted chargesheet to the court accusing five persons.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Nazmun Nahar Mita appeared for the state, while advocates Jahangir Chowdhury and Ahsan Habib Dulal defended the accused.