A Feni court on Tuesday sentenced 39 people to death in the sensational Fulgazi upazila parishad chairman Ekramul Haque killing case.

District and Session’s Court Judge Aminul Haque handed down the verdict, acquitting 16 other accused, including BNP leader Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury Minar, as the allegation brought against them could not be proved, reports the UNB.

Earlier on February 13, the court set March 13 for delivering the judgment in the case and cancelled the bail of 22 accused and sent 36 accused to jail.

Ekram, also the president of Fulgazi upazila unit of Awami League, came under attack by armed miscreants in front of Bilasi Cinema Hall on May 20, 2014 while on his way to Fulgazi upazila headquarters from his Masterpara residence in Feni district town.

The attackers intercepted his microbus and fired at him from a very close range and then set fire to the vehicle. They left the scene after confirming Ekram’s death on the spot.

Ekram’s brother Rezaul Haque Jasim filed a case against Minar and others with Feni Model Police Station on May 21, 2014.

Plainclothes police arrested Minar from the capital on May 27, 2014.