Farid, a Chhatra League leader of Islamia Degree College, was gunned down in the city on December 7, 1996.

Judge of the Divisional Special Trial Tribunal (STT), Chittagong, M Hassan Imam pronounced the verdict in a crowded courtroom.

The convicts are: Chhatra League leader Rajib Dotto Rinku, Arabindhu Shaha, Mohammad Mohiuddin and Asif Uddin Babar.

They were also fined Tk 50,000 each, in default, to suffer two years more in jail.

The court acquitted five of the nine chargesheeted accused as they were not found guilty. The five are: Sabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Jahid, Iqbalul Alam, Shafiul Bashar and Aminul Islam.

According to the prosecution, the convicts fired shots at Farid Ahmed in front of Sayed Monzil in Kamal Gate area under Doublemooring thana following internal political feud. He died in the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

Aziz Ahmed, elder brother of Farid, filed a case with Doublemooring thana against seven people on December 9, 1996.

Police submitted the chargesheet against nine people. The court in 49 working days examined nine witnesses, out of 16, before pronouncing the verdict.

Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Ahmed Kamrul Islam Chowdhury Sazzad appeared for the state, while Advocate Salauddin Hyder defended the accused.