The convicts to walk the gallows are Naimur Islam alias Iman and Shipon Hawlader.

The Speedy Trial Tribunal, Chittagong, handed down the verdict, acquitting six other accused.

The five who got life are Ripon Hawlader, Mazharul Islam Farhad, Helal Uddin, Solaiman and Md Maroof Sikder. They are also to pay a fine of Tk 50 thousand each and in default, they are to suffer another two years' imprisonment.

Of the five, Ripon, Mazharul and Helal are absconding.

Judge of the tribunal M Hasan Imam delivered the judgement in a packed court-room in presence of nine of the accused, a number of lawyers and relatives of the victim at around 1:00pm.

The tribunal said the convicts could appeal to higher court within seven days of receipt of attested copies of its verdict.

The acquitted accused include Md Hossain Hiron, alleged mastermind of the murder and Awami-League backed ward commissioner of Chittagong City Corporation, and consatable Nawab Ali.

Shafiuddin was shot and chopped to death at his residence at Ambagan under Khulshi thana in the port city on the night of June 14 last year.

The victim's wife Masuda Begum, plaintiff of the murder case, and other relatives expressed disappointment over the acquittal of some culprits, particularly Hiron and Nawab Ali.

"With the acquittal of these accused, who were giving us threats on telephone repeatedly, we now feel utterly insecure," said an aggrieved Masuda.

According to the deposition of the case, the accused equipped with firearms and other lethal weapons had stormed into the residence of Shafiuddin, also a railway employee, at the Railway Colony at Ambagan and brutally killed him. His firm resistance to illegal growth of slums on Railway lands and unsocial activities at the colony led to his murder.

The tribunal gave the verdict on the 134th work-day after hearing 23 witnesses out of 46.

Public Prosecutor Quamrul Islam Chowdhury Sajjad appeared for the plaintiff and Advocate Ehsanul Haq Hena for the defendants.

Meanwhile, life-term to Maroof Sikder, also a FIFA referee, sparked criticism from many.

Maroof told reporters later he was attending a conference in Dhaka when the murder took place, and claimed he was a victim of conspiracy.