District and Sessions Judge Md Abdul Salam Shikdar handed down the punishment in presence of the convict Dr Abu Taher Md Golam Murtaza, 40, at around 1:00pm.

The court also fined him Tk 1000 and acquitted four others, including two nurses of the charges as they were found to be innocent.

According to the prosecution, Md Habibur Rahman, 8, son of Jahangir Hossain of Shibpur Bernaiya village in Shahrasti upazila of the district was brought to Grameen Shastha Kalyan Kendra on June 23, 2005 for a circumcision by Dr Golam Murtaza of the health centre.

Just after the circumcision, Habib started to bleed profusely and died on his way to a private hospital in Comilla two hours into the operation.

When the news of the kid's death spread, angry people brought out a procession accusing the doctor. Being informed, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

A case was filed by police, following which Dr Murtaza and three of his staff were arrested. Another accused staff Sajeda Akhtar surrendered later.