The court has acquitted five others, as the allegations brought against them were not proved.

Judge AR Masud of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 handed down the verdict in presence of two accused, Shahadat Hossain alias Seku and Masud. They were hauled before the court during hartal hours and both were acquitted.

The convicts are Amir Hossain Babu and Shahed Ali alias Zia, while the three other acquitted are Robin alias Narottam Saha, Sagar and Kamal Bepari.

Babu had given a confessional statement to a magistrate revealing involvement of the other accused in the murder. But they were discharged of the murder.

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

Earlier on July 19, 2003, gunmen opened fire on guests at the wedding party, killing Nazma Akhter and hurting 10 others in Kazipara in Kafrul.

It was the wedding of Golam Mostafa Labu, assistant organising secretary of Dhaka city Jubo League (North). Nazma, sister of bride Afroza Akhter Dolly, was carrying.

The assailants left the scene shooting Shabbir Alam Litu, general secretary of the Tejgaon thana unit Jubo League, four times point-blank.

But a number of guests chased then and caught Babu and Shahed from a house in Sheorapara.

Babu and Shahed had obtained bail from the High Court and gone into hiding since then.

Meantime, the court staff did not cooperate with journalists on the verdict information and played hide-and-seek with them.

The journalists wanted to meet the judge for correct information at about 2:30pm but the Pesker said he had left his chamber.

However, the judge left the chamber at 6:00pm, Special Public Prosecutor Aminul Islam said.