The Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal on Tuesday sentenced nine people, including a former Union Parishad chairman, to death and five others to life imprisonment in connection with the killing of an Awami League leader in 2022.

Judge Md Mohiduzzaman announced the verdict with the convicts joining virtually from Rajshahi Central Jail for security reasons, said senior public prosecutor Entazul Haque Babu.

He said the court also acquitted the seven other accused in the case because the charges against them could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The convicted persons are Pabna Sadar Upazila AL vice president and former chairman of Hemayetpur union municipality, Alauddin Malitha, 62, his brother Abul Hossain alias Ranju Malitha, 37, his nephew Anowar Ahmmed Swapan, 42, grandson Ashik Malitha, 27, Ripon Khan, 27, Nuruzzaman Rakib, 20, Yasin Arafat alias Isti, 23, Iftiyar Hossain Alif alias Alif Malitha, 20, and Nurul Islam Jony, 24.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment are Alauddin Malitha’s brothers Haider Malitha, Dulal Malitha, Delowar Hossain alias Raju Malitha, Belal Hossain Ujjal alias Ujjal Malitha and Ruhul Amin alias Sanju Malitha.

According to the prosecution, Alauddin Malitha had long been at loggerheads with AL member of Pabna municipality, Saidur Rahman alias Saidur Malitha, over land disputes and the pursuit of supremacy in the region.

Later, on September 9, 2020, Alauddin, in collaboration with other convicts, shot and hacked Saidur to death in broad daylight in Bangabaria village of Pabna Sadar upazila.

Following the incident, Saidur’s brother Afzal Malitha alias Haran Malitha filed a complaint at the Pabna Sadar police station for the murder of 20 named and 7 to 8 unnamed persons.

PP Entazul Haque Babu said that the court had heard the statements of 35 witnesses in the case.

Afzal Malitha told reporters that he was satisfied with the tribunal’s verdict and would urge the relevant authorities to implement the sentence soon.