The condemned convicts are Iddris Shaikh, 28, of Sadar upazila, Shajahan Howlader, 34, of Kachua upazila, Lutfor Joarder, 34, of Swarankhola upazila, and Majnu Howlader alias Sentu, 32, of Patharghata in Barguna. Of them, Iddris and Shajahan were in the dock, while Lutfor and Majnu remained absconding.

Two other accused in the same case--Anis Shaikh and Kalam Sarder-- have been awarded life imprisonment and 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

Judge M Kadir Newaz of the women and children Repression Control Tribunal, Bagerhat, pronounced the judgement at noon. A total of 22 prosecution witnesses deposed in the court during the trial.

According to the prosecution, the convicts stormed into the house of fish trader Niranjan Thakur at Komorpur village under Bagerhat Sadar upazila on the night of March 8, 2003 to commit robbery. During the heist, they raped two female inmates of the house, Anima and Sheuli, and killed Tapan Thakur, younger brother of Niranjan.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia called Anima, Shiuli and Niranjan Thakur to her office few days after the incident. The prime minister handed over a cheque for Tk two lakh to Anima, wife of slain Tapan Thakur.

On March 10, Niranjan Thakur lodged an FIR with Bagerhat Sadar Police Station, accusing six people of gang rape and murder.

Investigating officer pressed charges against the accused in June, 2003. The case was transferred to Speedy Trial Tribunal, Khulna, on January 11 last year. But it was sent back to Bagerhat Women and Children Repression Control Tribunal on February 24 this year for trial as the speedy trial tribunal failed to dispose of the case within 135 working days.