His son, Mustafizur Rahman Bahadur, who was just six years old at the time, witnessed the murder.
Mustafizur, now 35 and a lawyer, has finally ensured justice for his father's murder after 29 years as a legal counsel for the plaintiff.
Judge Bahauddin Kazi of Gazipur's Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Court on Monday announced his verdict in the murder case.
Sultan's brother Main Uddin Bepari, 65, and step-brother Abul Kashem Bepary, 60, were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment till the rest of their natural lives and fined Tk10,000 each.
The deceased's brother Abdul Mannan, 55, Siraj Uddin, 55, Azizul Huq, 60, and Main Uddin, 60, were handed life imprisonment.
The court also acquitted Gias Uddin, 60, as the charges against him had not been proven.
Mustafizur Rahman Bahadur said there had been a land-related dispute between Sultan Uddin and the convicts.
On September 15, 1993, Sultan Uddin was in his living room, discussing family matters with his brother Motahar Hossain and neighbour Mujibur Rahman. The convicts suddenly entered the house with firearms and locally made weapons and held everyone hostage. They stabbed and shot Sultan Uddin at one point. Hearing Sultan screaming, his two sons Mubarak Hossain and Abul Kalam Azad came forward to protect their father. The attackers hit and injured them as well. Later, they fled the scene when neighbours gathered around the house hearing their cries for help.
“Even 15 days before the gruesome murder, some of them publicly threatened to kill my father,” said Mustafizur.
The deceased's brother Motahar Hossin filed a case at Sreepur police station in connection with the murder.
The police pressed charges against 13 people in 1995.
The trial of the case began in 1997, Mustafizur said.
Five accused – Moyez Uddin Bepari, Momen, Mostafa, Abdul Wahab and Hanifa – died during the course of the 29-year-long trial.
“I became a lawyer to ensure justice for my father's murder and I was able to do that after 29 years. This is a great achievement for me,” said Mustafizur.
Abdur Rashid was another lawyer for the plaintiff in the trial.
