Five to die, 3 get life

A Dhaka court sentenced Wednesday five persons to death and three others to life term for killing a man in 1999, report agencies.

The convicts-Dulal alias Anu, Belal, Sharif Mahmud Hossain alias Panna, Amzad Hossain and Waliullah Khan alias Bulbul- were also fined Tk 10,000 each. Among them, Panna, Amzad and Bulbul were tried in absentia.

The lifers are Sumon alias Pagla Sumon, Salauddin alias Sujon and Jabed Mia. All of them are also on the run.

The court fined the lifers Tk 10,000 each. In default on the fine they will suffer one more year's rigorous imprisonment.

However, the court acquitted seven other accused as allegations brought against them could not be proved. All the convicts were class IV employees of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital.

According to the prosecution, Khorshed Alam (22), son of Siddiqur Rahman, a class four employee of the hospital, was stabbed to death by the convicts over previous enmity in a field behind the hospital on May 22, 1999.