Dhaka, May 30: Two people, including a city councillor, have been sentenced to death in Bangladesh for the daylight murder of a lawyer, court officials said today. Judge Shahed Nooruddin, of the speedy trial tribunal in Dhaka, handed down the sentence to Saidur Rahman Shahid, an elected ward commissioner in Dhaka, and Kala Jahangir, in a 36-page judgement yesterday.

They were convicted of the killing of 44-year-old lawyer Habibur Rahman Mondol on August 20, 2000, apparently because of political rivalry.

He also sentenced 13 others to life in prison for conspiracy to murder, but acquitted three others because for a lack of evidence.

Lawyers for Shahid and Jahangir, who is absconding, said they would appeal against the death penalty.

Bureau Report