Khulna Jail Superintendent Farhad Mia fixed the date in accordance with section 6 of the jail code after being officially informed about the president's decision yesterday.

Ershad Shikder was given the death penalty by a Khulna court on April 30, 2000, for murdering Jubo League leader Khalid Hossain.

Shikdar himself committed the brutal murder on the night of May 16, 1999, at Skidghat where many of his adversaries were held and tortured.

The High Court upheld the judgement of the Khulna special court and the Supreme Court also dismissed a subsequent review petition on March 21.

On April 9, Ershad petitioned the president to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment, but the president also rejected the petition.

According to records at the Khulna jail, Shikdar was given the death penalty in six out of 17 murder cases and the life-term in five cases while 20 other cases are still pending.

As per jail code, the date of execution will be communicated to top officials of the judiciary and civil and police administrations. Due to security reasons, the convict will be informed only two hours before the hanging.

After his death, Shikdar will be buried by the authorities as his relatives have refused to receive the body, the jail super said.

Ershad Shikdar would be the 373rd convict to be hanged since independence and the second in Khulna district jail, jail sources said.