Guwahati, Jan 30 (IANS): The Assam government Thursday said it cannot offer a reaction to ULFA commander-in chief Paresh Baruah being awarded death sentence by a Bangladesh court until it receives "formal communication" in this regard.

State Home Secretary G.D. Tripathy said he has seen media reports that a court in Bangladesh awarded death sentence over an arms smuggling case to the chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) faction opposed to peace talks with the union government.

"However, we are yet to receive any official communication in this regard. I can comment only after I receive formal communication in this regard," Tripathy said.

Barua was among 14 people awarded the death sentence by a special court in Chittagong Thursday in connection with the 2004 arms smuggling case.

The court handed down the death sentence to Barua and 13 others, including Jamaat chief and then industries minister Motiur Rahman Nizami and then state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, for smuggling in 10 truckloads of firearms in 2004, the Daily Star reported.