District and Sessions Judge of Barguna Md Asaduzzaman pronounced the verdict at 1:50pm in presence of nine accused (except Md Musa), reports our correspondent quoting Bhuban Chandra Haldar, public prosecutor of Barguna District and Session Court.

The other condemned convicts are Rakibul Hasan alias Rifat Farazi, Abdul Kaiyum alias Rabbi Akon, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, Rezwanul Khan alias Tiktok Ridoy and Md Hasan, he said.

They were also fined Tk 50,000 each.

The court acquitted four accused — Rafiul Islam Rabbi, Mohammad Sagor, Kamrul Islam Saimum and Md Musa — as they were found innocent in the murder case, added the PP.

Terming Minni as the “mastermind” behind the killing, the court in its verdict said Minni secretly married Sabbir Hossain Nayan alias Nayan Bond — who was later killed in a gunfight with police — before tying the knot with Rifat Sharif, public prosecutor Bhuban said.

“Minni along with Nayan Bond chalked out a plan to kill Rifat Sharif,” the public prosecutor said quoting the court observation, adding that they executed the plan on June 26 last year in front of Barguna Government College in broad daylight.

Meanwhile, the trial of 14 other accused is going on in the Barguna Children’s Court as they are juveniles.

According to court sources, 76 witnesses testified against the 10 accused. The prosecution and defence then placed their arguments in the court for and against the accused.

On September 1 last year, police submitted separate charge sheets to the court, accusing 10 adults and 14 juveniles.