Judge AR Masud of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 handed down the sentence in presence of the convicts -- Nazrul Islam and Mojibur Rahman, while Habibur Rahman was tried in absentia.

Nineteen other accused were acquitted of charges.

The complainant, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the judgement saying that some of the culprits responsible for her daughter's death were acquitted of charges.

In his order, the judge said the convicts were given punishment on the basis of Nazrul's confessional statement and circumstantial evidence. The convicts can appeal to the High Court against the verdict within 30 days of receiving the judgement copy, the judge added.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 17 prosecution witnesses.

On March 11, 2004, six youths allegedly led by Habibur Rahman of Pallabi abducted and gang-raped 25-year-old Fatema Akhter Kohinoor, a teacher, and then burnt her to death at an abandoned poultry farm in the area.

Following the incident, victim's mother Almida Khatun filed a case with Pallabi Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act accusing six people the next day.

The investigation officer pressed charges against Habibur Rahman and 21 others on July 7 the same year.

Victim's mother Almida Khatun told the journalists at the courtroom yesterday that in his confessional statement to Metropolitan Magistrate Abdur Rouf Khan, Nazrul also mentioned names of Shafiqul Islam Safu, Abul Kalam Azad, Sumon, Boro Babu, Chhoto Babu and five to six unknown people as the rapists of the victim, but only Mojibur, Habibur and Nazrul were convicted for the incident.

Advocate SMA Sabur conducted the case on behalf of the complainant while advocates Syed Rezaur Rahman and Abul Kalam Azad defended the accused.