Judge Mohammad Nazrul Islam of the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court pronounced the verdict, for the murder of 22-year-old Bipul 12 years ago, in the presence of Aslam.

Aslam, now in jail, was in 2003 awarded another life-term for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.

In the murder case, filed with the Tejgoan Police Station, it was alleged that a group of miscreants led by Aslam and four others stabbed to death Mofazzal Hossain alias Bipul, son of Akhter Hossain at Tejturi Bazar in the city, on October 15, 1993.

The victim's father filed the murder case against Aslam and four others the same day.

The court also awarded a life-term to Ehsanul Haq alias Fox Rubel, son of MA Gafur of Alipur village in Noakhali district, in the same case. The court fined them each Tk 20,000, in default of which they have to suffer two years more in jail.

Fourteen other criminal cases filed against Aslam are still pending with different city courts, sources said.

Aslam was arrested from his DOHS home on May 20, 1997 after a case was filed with the Cantonment Police Station. Police seized a pistol, a shotgun, a revolver and six bullets from his possession.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 12 prosecution witnesses.

The Detective Branch (DB) of police pressed charges against Aslam and Fox Rubel on September 23, 1995 and the court framed charges against the two on January 1, 1998.

Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Mahmud Hassan appeared for the state while advocate Saidur Rahman Manik defended the accused.