The appellate division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the High Court’s death sentence of two convicts and life imprisonment of two others in the murder case of Rajshahi University Professor S Taher Ahmed.

A bench of six justices, led by Chief justice Hasan Foez Siddique, passed the order, rejecting the appeal of the defence in this case.

The two death row convicts of the case are Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin, associate professor of Rajshahi University’s geology and mining department, and Md Jahangir Alam, caretaker of Professor S. Taher’s residence.

The two lifers are Nazmul Alam and Abdus Salam, relatives of caretaker Jahangir Alam.

Attorney general AM Amin Uddin and deputy attorney general (DAG) Bishwajit Debnath represented the state, while lawyer SM Shahjahan and barrister Ehsan E Siddique appeared for the convicts.

DAG Bishwajit Debnath said, “Killing a professor just for promotion is a heinous crime and justice has been served through this order. The defence can now appeal for the review of the order and seek presidential pardon if the appeal gets rejected. The death sentence will be executed if the convicts don’t get clemency.”

Meanwhile, Professor Taher’s wife Sultana Ahmed, son Sanzid Alvi, and daughter Shegufta Tabassum Ahmed were content with the order.

“After 16 years of struggle, we got justice. Will be fully content when the same will be executed,” said Taher’s wife Sultana Ahmed.

Prof Taher’s body was recovered from a drain near his residence, two days after he went missing on February 1, 2006.

On February 3, a murder case was filed at Motihar police station in Rajshahi, following a complaint lodged by his son Sanzid.

A Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal on May 22, 2008, sentenced to death the four accused.

The tribunal also acquitted two persons, including former RU Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi.

Later on May 13, 2013, the High Court upheld the death penalty of Mohiuddin and Jahangir, but sentenced Salam and Nazmul to imprisonment until death.

After the order, the convicts moved the apex court.