Attack on Sheikh Hasina in 2002: HC grants bail to 6 convicts

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday granted bail to six convicts who were sentenced to four years in prison in an attempted murder case filed over the attack on then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina's motorcade in Satkhira in 2002.

A two-member bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Ahmed Sohel granted them bail for one year each.

Those who secured bail are Golam Rasool, Jahurul Islam, Toufikur Rahman Sanju, Shahabuddin, Abdul Rakib Molla and Monirul Islam.

Adv Gazi Md Mohsin and Adv Shahanara Parvin Bakul appeared for the convicts in the court. Additional Attorney General SM Munir and Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state.

SM Munir said they would challenge the decision in the Appellate Division seeking a stay on the bail order.

On August 30, 2002, then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina's convoy was attacked on the Jashore-Satkhira road in front of the BNP office in Kalaroa upazila of Satkhira. Several people, including former MP Mujibur Rahman, were injured in the incident. On the same day, Kalaroa Upazila Muktijoddha Commander Moslem Uddin filed a case on charges of attempted murder.

In 2015, police filed a chargesheet against 50 people, including BNP leader Habibul Islam, then MP of Satkhira-1 (Tala-Kalaroa) constituency. According to the chargesheet against the accused, the attack was aimed at killing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was the opposition leader at the time.

After the trial, the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court of Satkhira sentenced all the accused in the case on February 4. BNP leader and former MP Habibul Islam was sentenced to 10 years in jail under certain sections. Besides, former general secretary of Satkhira District Bar Association Advocate Abdus Sattar and other accused were sentenced to different terms, reports UNB.