The Appellate Division on Sunday began hearing appeals in the murder case of former Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master.
The hearing is being conducted by a four-member bench headed by the chief justice.
Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque is representing the state.
Ahsanullah Master, a freedom fighter, teacher and labour leader, was elected MP from the Gazipur-2 constituency in 1996 and 2001.
He was shot dead on May 7, 2004, while addressing a rally at MA Majid Mia High School ground in Noagaon, Gazipur.
On April 16, 2005, the Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced 22 people, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarker, to death and six others to life imprisonment. Two of those sentenced to death later died.
Following the verdict, the death reference and jail appeals, along with appeals filed by the convicts, were heard by the High Court.
On June 15, 2016, a High Court bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath delivered its verdict, upholding the death sentences of six convicts and the life sentences of two.
The court also commuted the death sentences of seven convicts to life imprisonment and acquitted 11 others.
The six whose death sentences were upheld are Nurul Islam Sarker, Nurul Islam Dipu, Mahbubur Rahman Mahbub, Hafiz alias Kana Hafiz, Sohag alias Saru and Shahidul Islam Shipu, who later died in Kashimpur Central Jail on January 4.
The life sentences of Tipu and Nurul Amin were also upheld.
The death sentences of Md Ali, Syed Ahmed Hossain Majnu, Anwar Hossain alias Anu, Ratan Mia alias Baro Mia Ratan, Jahangir alias Chhota Jahangir, Abu Salam alias Salam and Mashiur Rahman alias Monu were commuted to life imprisonment.
The High Court acquitted Amir Hossain, Jahangir alias Baro Jahangir, Faisal, Roni Mia alias Roni Fakir, Khokon, Lokman and Dulal Mia of the death charges.
It also acquitted Monir, Rakib Uddin Sarker alias Pappu, Ayub Ali and Jahangir, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court.
The convicted persons later appealed to the Appellate Division seeking acquittal.