HC fixes 5 Feb for verdict in 1994 case over attempted murder of Hasina
The court today held a hearing on the appeals made by the convicts and the death reference by the state
The High Court (HC) has fixed 5 February to pronounce a verdict in a case filed over an attempt to kill Sheikh Hasina while she was an opposition leader in 1994.
The bench of Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam and Justice Md Hamidur Rahman today (30 January) set the date after a hearing on the appeals made by the convicts in the case and the death reference by the state.
During the hearing, Barrister Kayser Kamal and Advocate Maksud Ullah represented the convicts.
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According to the case documents, Hasina was heading for Saidpur from Khulna on a Rupsha Express train on 23 September 1994.
Although Hasina was about to hold a meeting on her way, it was foiled as the then BNP leader Jakaria Pintu along with his men allegedly opened fire and hurled bombs targeting the train at Ishwardi railway junction with the intention to kill her, says the case documents.
Nazrul Islam, the then officer-in-charge of Ishwardi railway police, lodged the case on the same day over the incident.
On 3 April 1997, police submitted a charge sheet to the court accusing 52 people.
Later, the names of five of the accused were removed from the charge sheet following their deaths.
On 3 July 2019, the court handed down death sentences to Pintu and eight others, 25 others received life imprisonment, and 13 of the accused received prison terms for 10 years.
The death references for Pintu and eight others were sent to the High Court later, against which the convicts appealed.
