Dhaka: A Dhaka speedy trial tribunal gives death sentence to two and jails six others on various terms for killing blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider.

Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 3 judge Syed Ahmed announced the verdict on Thursday morning.

The tribunal handed over death sentences to former North South University (NSU) students Faisal Bin Nayeem Dwip and Redwanul Azad Rana; and gave Maksudul Hasan Anik life in prison; 10-year jail to Mohammad Ehsan Reza Rumman, Nayeem Sikder Irad and Nafiz Imtiaz; five-year jail to Ansarullah Bangla Team chief Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani; and three-year imprisonment to Sadman Yasir Mahmud.

Earlier, Judge Syed Ahmed passed the order on completion of law point arguments from both prosecution and defence sides.

Seven accused, out of eight, were present in the dock during the hearing, reports UNB, a local news agency.

Special public prosecutor Mahbubur Rahman said, ‘We expect the highest punishment for the accused as we’ve been able to prove the allegations brought against them though evidence and arguments.’

Meanwhile, the defence counsel alleged that there is no eyewitness in the case, and hoped that all the accused will be acquitted.

Earlier on 11 May, Judge Ruhul Amin of Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court transferred the case to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 for its quick disposal.

On 19 March, the court indicted eight people–Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani, chief of Ansarullah Bangla Team, former students of North South University (NSU) Faisal Bin Nayeem alias Dwip, Maksudul Hasan Anik, Mohammad Ehsan Reza Rumman, Nayeem Sikder Irad, Nafiz Imtiaz, Sadman Yasir Mahmud, and Redwanul Azad Rana–in the blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider murder case.

On 5 February 2013, Ahmed Rajib Haider, an activist of Ganajagarn Mancha, was stabbed to death near his house at Mirpur Palash Nagar in Dhaka.