Six get life in prison for 2004 murder of BNP leader Naeem Sikder

One suspect died during the course of the trial

A Dhaka court has sentenced six people to life imprisonment for the murder of BNP leader Naeem Sikder Bindu in the capital's Shyampur 22 years ago.

Judge Zakaria Hossain of the Dhaka Special Judges' Court delivered the verdict on Sunday.

The convicts are Shamim Hossain Sikder, Shahidul Islam alias Thotkata Ripon, Shahid alias Driver Shahid, Shahid Hossain alias Senchu, Dulal alias Kala Dulal alias Zakir Hossain, and Aminul Islam.

Driver Shahid died while the trial was under way, a court staff said.

Fakir Zahidul Islam, the court's upper-division bench assistant, confirmed that each convict was also fined Tk 20,000.

Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional year of imprisonment.

Aminul, the only convict present in court, was taken into custody immediately after the verdict.

Arrest warrants have been issued for the remaining fugitives.

According to the case documents, Naeem had a long-running dispute with the suspect over city corporation elections, and they had repeatedly threatened to kill him.

Naeem was shot dead outside Golden Hair Dressers at Bottola, 213 Kalimullah Bagh in Shyampur around 7:15pm on Nov 16, 2004.

HIs wife Sabina Yasmin filed a case against 11 individuals at Kadamtali Police Station the following day.