In a revision trial, a special court today commuted the death sentence of two operatives of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to life term imprisonment for killing a teacher of Rajshahi University in 2004.

Judge Golam Ahmed Khalilur Rahman of Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal passed the order, our Rajshahi correspondent reports quoting public prosecutor Emtajul Haque.

Read more: 8 JMB men charged

Of the convicts, Safiullah alias Tarek alias Abul Kalam hailed from Satkhira and Shahidullah alias Mahbub from Naogaon.

Mohammad Yunus, a professor of economics department of RU, was killed near his Binodhpur house in Rajshahi city on December 24, 2004.

Yunus was the president of RU Bangabandhu Parishad and senior vice-president of Bangladesh Economic Association.

Also read: Fresh probe into killing of Prof Yunus demanded

Abdul Halim, brother of Yunus, filed a murder case on the same day. Police submitted a charge sheet accusing eight JMB men on December 8, 2007.

The Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced death penalty to Safiullah and Shahidullah on January 28, 2010 and acquitted six others of the charges.

Read more: Prof Yunus murder case goes to speedy tribunal

Following appeals filed by the convicts, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court ordered the trial court for its retrial in the murder case.