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HC Acquits 9 Death-Row Convicts in Hasina Attack Case
The High Court (HC) has acquitted 47 convicts, including nine death-row prisoners, in the case involving an attempt to kill former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Pabna nearly 30 years ago.
An HC bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul-Islam and Justice Hamidur Rahman, passed the verdict on Wednesday, according to Barrister Kaisar Kamal, who represented the defendants.
On January 30 this year, the court heard petitions from the convicts and the death reference, setting February 5 to announce its decision.
In 2019, a Pabna court sentenced nine individuals to death, 25 to life imprisonment, and 13 others to 10 years in prison for the 1994 attack on Sheikh Hasina. Kaisar Kamal argued that the sentences were politically motivated, as all the convicted individuals were leaders and activists of the BNP.
The case stems from a 1994 incident in which a group of BNP members, led by Jakaria Pintu, attempted to kill Sheikh Hasina while she was traveling from Khulna to Saidpur on the Rupsa Express on September 23. The attack was foiled, and Ishwardi police station’s Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam filed a case.
In 1997, the Criminal Investigation Department submitted a chargesheet against 52 accused individuals. Five of the accused were exempted from charges after their deaths.
On July 3, 2019, the Pabna court issued its verdict. Subsequently, the death references were sent to the HC, where the convicts sought acquittal.