A verdict is due to be announced in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, on Sunday after a two-year trial of the former army officers accused of assassinating the country's independence leader

David Chazan reports from Dhaka

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed 23 years ago, but his killing still has political resonance today.

Opposition parties in Bangladesh have called for mass anti-government demonstrations to coincide with the verdict.

Supporters of Sheikh Mujib demonstrate in Dhaka

Sheikh Mujib was the figurehead of the struggle to free Bangladesh from Pakistani rule, and the killings of Sheikh Mujib and later of his political allies, still have political resonance today.

After independence in 1971, he returned from jail in Pakistan a national hero.

He became known as Bongobondhu, the Bengali's friend and held in near religious reverence as the father of the nation.

One party state

But he used his enormous charisma to concentrate power in his own hands, creating a one party state.

Sheikh Mujib's daughter is now prime minister

His prestige waned when he was criticised over his handling of the famine, which broke out after severe floods in 1974, and when he alienated the army, his fate was sealed.

Sheikh Mujib was killed along with 21 members of his family, including his wife and 10-year old son, in a dawn attack on his Dhaka villa by more than 100 soldiers early on the morning of August 15th 1975. It was only four years after his triumphal homecoming.

It was not until his daughter, Sheikh Hasina was elected Prime Minister two years ago, that five of the army officers accused of masterminding the coup were brought to justice.

Political instability

Another 14 believed to be in exile have been tried in absentia.

Sheikh Mujib's assassination plunged Bangladesh into a long period of coups, counter-coups and political blood letting.

Among the many victims were four of his closest aides and former ministers shot at close range in a Dhaka jail cell eight weeks later.

The poster demands justice is done

Old wounds were re-opened in September by the arrests of three opposition figures accused of ordering the jail killings.

There have been demonstrations and strikes and this week the opposition walked out of parliament in protest at the charges of conspiracy to murder brought against the three.

On Saturday, one person was killed in violent clashes between pro- and anti-government demonstrators.

The main opposition party led by Khaleda Zia, whose husband President Zia was assassinated six years after Sheikh Mujib, accuses Sheikh Hasina of waging a political vendetta.