A Feni court today sentenced 39 Awami League activists to death for killing Phulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque in Feni on May 20, 2014.

The court also acquitted 16 others as allegations brought against them were not proved, our local correspondent reports.

BNP local leader Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury Minar, the prime accused in the murder case, and Feni district Awami League (AL) unit joint convener Ziaul Alam Alias Mister was among the acquitted 16 persons.

Jahangir Kabir Adel, former joint secretary of Feni district AL unit, and Zaid Chowdhury, former joint secretary of Phulgazi upazila AL unit, were sentenced to death penalty.

Feni District Court Judge Aminul Huq announced the verdict around 3:30pm, said Public Prosecutor Hafiz Ahmed.

Police submitted the charge sheet against 56 people on August 28, 2014. Of the 56 charged, 55 belong to Awami League or its associated bodies.

Ekramul, who was the president of Phulgazi union Awami League, was shot and then burnt alive in his car in broad day-light.

Four of his associates, including a local journalist, were injured when the attackers set Ekramul's car on fire near Bilashi cinema hall in Feni town around 11:00am on May 20, 2014.

Rezaul Haque Jashim, the victim's brother, filed the murder case the same day with Feni Police Station, accusing Minar and 30 to 35 unidentified people.