A court in Manikganj sentenced eight people to life imprisonment in the widely discussed Hiron murder case on Tuesday afternoon. Additional District and Sessions Judge Md Tasim Billah delivered the verdict. Each convicted person was also fined Tk20,000, with an additional six months in prison if the fine is not paid.

The convicted are Marzina, Falani, Mizan Khan, Rustam Khan, Sabuj Ahmed, Selim Mia, Anis and Rafiq. According to case records, Abdul Majid Hiron of Railya village in Saturia went missing after leaving home on the night of October 7, 2009. His body was recovered the following day from a mahogany grove on the western bank of the Dhaleshwari River.

The first information report alleged that Hiron was strangled to death. State lawyer and Additional Public Prosecutor Bulbul Ahmed Golap said the court issued the convictions after hearing testimony from 17 witnesses during a lengthy trial. Seven other accused were acquitted, while two accused died during the proceedings.