A Shariatpur court today sentenced six people to death in connection with a murder case filed over the killing of Public Prosecutor Habibur Rahman and his brother in Shariatpur 19 years ago.

The convicts are Shahid Talukdar, Shahin Kotwal, Shahid Kotwal, Shafi Kotwal, Solaman Sardar and Mojibar Rahman Talukdar. They were also fined Tk 10,000 each.

Judge Md Showkat Hossain of the Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court in Shariatpur handed down the sentence in presence of 39 accused at a packed courtroom this noon, Aminul Islam Hiron, bench assistant of the court, told The Daily Star.

The court also sentenced Sarowar Hossain Babul Talukdar, Babul Khan, Dablu Talukdar and Tokai Rashid to life term imprisonment and fined Tk 10,000 each, in default of which they will be sentenced six months more in jail.

Three other accused -- Montu Talukdar, Aslam Sardar and Jakir Hossain Mojnu -- were sentenced to a two-year imprisonment for committing the crimes.

The court acquitted 39 other accused from the charges as they were found not guilty in the case.

The court also issued conviction warrants and arrest warrants against Shahid Talukdar, Shahin Kotwal, Sarowar Hossain Babul Talukdar, Tokai Rashid and Jakir Hossain Mojnu, who are on the run.

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

Earlier, the court recorded statements of 28 out of 47 prosecution witnesses in the case.

The arguments from both the prosecution and the defence were completed on February 25.

A large number of police personnel were deployed at the court premises during the verdict since morning. An archway metal detector was erected at the entrance of the concerned court.

Shariatpur district court's PP Habibur Rahman, also joint general secretary of district unit Awami League, and his brother Monir Hossain were brutally shot to death at their house in Sadar upazila while campaigning for the 8th parliamentary polls on October 5, 2001.

On October 6 that year, Jinnat Rahman, wife of victim Habibur Rahman, filed a case with Palong Police Station in connection with the double murder.