A Dhaka court on Sunday awarded five former Chhatra League activists death sentence and six other life term imprisonment in Jahangirnagar University (JU) student Zubair Ahmed murder case.

Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 Judge ABM Nizamul Haque handed down the verdict at a crowded courtroom in the afternoon.

The condemned convicts are : Khandaker Ashikul Islam Ashik, Rashidul Islam Raju, Khan Mohammad Rais Sohan, Zahid Hasan and Mahabub Akram.

The lifers are : Ishtiaq Mehbub Arup, Najmus Sakib Topu, Kamruzzaman Sohag, Abhinandon Kundu, Majharul Islam and Shafiul Alam Setu.

The court, however, acquitted two other accused -- Mahamudul Hasan Masud and Najmul Hossein Plabon-- of the charge as their guilt was not proved.

Zubair, an honours final year student of English Department and also a former Chhatra League activist, succumbed to his injuries on January 8, 2012 at United Hospital in the city.

He was beaten and stabbed indiscriminately by some activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League the previous afternoon on the campus.

Hamidur Rahman, former deputy registrar of the JU, lodged the murder case with Ashulia Police Station on the same day.

Mir Shahin Shah, Sub-inspector (SI) of Ashulia Police Station who is also a probe body member of the case, submitted a charge sheet in a court on April 8, 2014.

The accused of the case are Khandokar Ashiqul Islam alias Ashik, Md Rashedul Islam alias Raju, Khan Mohammod Rais, Jahid Hassan, Istiaq Mehbub alias Arup, Mahbub Akram, Najmus Sakib alias Topu, Mazharul Islam, Kameuzzaman Sohag, Md Namul Hussain alias Plabon, Shofiuul Alam alias Setu, Abhinandan Kundu  alias Ovi and Mahmudul Hassan Masud.

On February 23, Ashik, Rais, Arup, Akram fled the court dock. Police issued arrest warrant against Raju and Jahid as they were fugitive.

The trial began on November 18, 2013 with the deposition of the plaintiff, Hamidur Rahman, then deputy registrar of the university.

AH/TF/LY