The four-Aku Gazi, Shahadat Hossain alias Khadu, Abdul Mannan and Lutfor Pramanik- were convicted for raping Shilpi Chaterjee.

Of the convicts, Aku and Khadu were present in the court during the delivery of the judgement while Lutfor and Mannan were tried in absentia.

Judge Abu Hanif of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 yesterday pronounced the verdict at 1:30pm at a jam-packed courtroom.

The court acquitted Abdus Salam as the charge brought against him could not be proved.

The court also fined them Tk 20,000 each and asked the collector (District Magistrate) of Manikganj to realise the fine and pay it to the victim.

The punishment of the fugitives will be effective from the date of their arrest or surrender, the judge said.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 18 prosecution witnesses.

In the case filed with Shibalaya Police Station, Shilpi Chaterjee alleged that a gang of assailants led by Abdus Salam entered their house at village Arua in Manikganj district breaking open the door at about 12:30am on April 28 last year and beat her parents.

The assailants dragged her father Shyamal out of the house, tied him with a mango tree and took her from her mother Renubala at gunpoint. Then Aku Gazi, Lutfor Pramanik, Mannan and Khadu raped her one after another at the East house while her two brothers-Kamal and Bimal-were sleeping at the north house. Shilpi lost her sense and five unknown assailants also raped her, the first information report said (FIR).

Later, Shilpi filed a rape case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 accusing Abdus Salam and four others the next day. The investigation officer pressed charges against Abdus Salam, Aku Gazi, Lutfor Pramanik, Mannan and Khadu on June 10 last year.

During the investigation, eight witnesses including complainant of the case gave judicial statements to first class magistrates on different dates.

Victim's father Shyamal Chaterjee and two brothers Kamal and Bimal were present in the court during the delivery of the verdict. They expressed their satisfaction over the judgement. But they expected the capital punishment to the rapists.

Special Public Prosecutor Nurul Iman Babul, advocates Abdus Sabur and Salma Jabin of Mahila Parishad and Ain and Salish Kendra appeared for the state while advocates Tahmina and Badsha defended the accused.