Relatives of the condemned and the defence counsels said they would fight it in the Supreme Court.

Latifur Rahman, father of Shazneen, believes the HC judgement will act as deterrent to such brutal crimes.

"The verdict makes it clear once again that no-one can go unpunished after committing heinous crimes as was done in case of my daughter," said Rahman, leading businessman and chairman of Transcom Group.

When contacted, Rahman, now in Medina with his family, expressed his satisfaction over the verdict. Criminal elements would now think twice before committing any such crimes, he felt.

"I'll not get back my child but the whole society will benefit from this verdict. It is a victory for the society," he said.

He expressed gratitude to all those who were involved in the judicial work and those who showed sympathy for his family after Shazneen's killing.

He hoped that the Supreme Court would also uphold the death sentence.

Fakhruzzaman, head of law section at Transcom Group, said, "We've got justice from the High Court."

As the Death Reference Bench on Shazneen murder case pronounced its verdict, Deputy Attorney General AMB Waliur Rahman, who moved for the prosecution, said, "Justice is done."

He later said, "I am satisfied with this verdict."

Asked whether the prosecution will appeal against the acquittal of Shaniram, he said, "We'll take decision about this in 2/3 days."

Relatives of the mastermind behind the gruesome incident, Hasan, rejected the verdict. "We can in no way accept the judgement," his younger Naimul Hasan said soon after its delivery . "We think injustice has been done here," he said. The convict's another brother wept standing beside him.

They would appeal against the verdict.

Asked about this, Anisul Haq, counsel for Hasan, said, "We'll seek justice in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court."

Nepal, father-in-law of acquitted Shaniram Mandal, was asking different people when his son-in-law would be released from jail. "The innocent boy has been in jail for about eight years, and my daughter Jogomaya has fallen sick worrying about him," the elderly man said with tears in his eyes.

"The High Court has done justice, Shaniram had no fault," he said expressing satisfaction at the verdict.