The convicts are Farid, Habibur Rahman Faruq and Sharif Hossain.

The court sentenced three others -- Apu, Nazim and Milon -- to three years' rigorous imprisonment for the killing. The court acquitted seven others -- Nahid, Malek, Wares, Anwar, KM Habibul Haq Sabbir, Rezaul Islam Reza and Lavlu -- as the charges brought against them were not proved.

Judge Golam Mortuza Majumder of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 handed down the verdict in absence of the convicts.

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

Following the verdict, victim's mother Hosne Ara Khan Lodi broke down in tears and expressed her dissatisfaction over the verdict. She told the reporters that Sabbir was the mastermind in the killing of her son. But how he was acquitted, she wondered. All the fugitives are roaming freely and threatening her and family members to kill. Police did not arrest them though the court issued warrant of arrest against them, Hosne Ara said.

She apprehends that the convicts will kill her another son. She will appeal to the Higher Court against the verdict, she said.

In the case filed with Shahajadpur Police Station, victim's paternal uncle Lavlu Lodi alleged that a gang of miscreants led by Sabbir stabbed to death his nephew Sico, 26, also former vice-president of Shahajadpur thana unit JCD, following a intra-party feud at about 7:30pm on August 25, 1999.

The investigation officer pressed charges against the accused on January 14, 2000.

Special Public Prosecutor Mohammad Moin Uddin expressed his dissatisfaction over the judgement and told that he would file an appeal to the Higher Court against the verdict.