A court here yesterday sentenced a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader to life term rigorous imprisonment (RI) in absentia and awarded another party leader to 10 years imprisonment in an arms case The convicts are district BCL vice president KibriaChowdhuryShamim alias Sumon who is still absconding and former district organising secre-taryoflhc party Bidhan Kumar Shaha who is noy; in jail.

Additional District and Sessions Judge here Fcrdous Ahmed pronounced the judgment in a crowded courtroom.

Sumon was fined Tk 1 lakh, in default, to suffer five years more imprisonment. The other convict, Bidhan was also fined Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer one year more RI.

Earlier, Bidhan was arrested form Uttar Bagbari area here on July 7. According to his confessionalstatement, the law enforcers recovered a SBBL gun and other arms from his close aide Sumon's Chouhatta house here.

However, Sumon managed to escape and remained absconding since the incident. Later, police submitted charge sheet against the two.