The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of three convicts to life term imprisonment over the killing of Awami League leader Kafil Uddin murder in Narayanganj.

The virtual bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order.

The three convicts are—Iqbal, Zakir Hossain and Joynal.

The court also set aside life term for another convict identified as Zaman. 

Advocate Abdur Rezzak Khan, Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, Abdul Wadud Bhuiya and Sarwar Ahmed stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Biswajit Debnath represented the state.

According to the prosecution, Kafil Uddin, a local Awami League leader was shot to death by some miscreants in front of Siddhirganj Sanarpar Market in Sadar upazila of Narayanganj district on December 16, 2003.

Ambia Khatun, wife of the AL leader lodged a complaint with Siddhirganj Police Station.

Police charged 16 people in the case.

On July 15, 2009, a court sentenced three people to death and 13 others to life term imprisonment.

The High Court also upheld the death penalty of the three death-row convicts.