Attack on Hasina’s train: Verdict today

A Pabna court will deliver its verdict today (Wednesday) in a case filed on charge of the attack on a train carrying Sheikh Hasina, then leader of the opposition and now the prime minister, at Ishwardi in Pabna.

Earlier On Monday (July 1) Additional District and Sessions Judge Rustom Ali fixed the date after hearing of arguments both from the prosecution and defence lawyers.

Two convicted fugitives surrendered to the court in Pabna on Tuesday (July 2).

The two who surrendered are Moklesur Rahman Bablu, former BNP mayor and president of Ishwardi municipality, and BNP leader Abdul Hakim Tenu.

On June 30, Pabna's Additional Sessions Judge Court-1 had sent to jail 30 BNP leaders and activists after denying their bail.

The court also issued arrest warrants against the key accused in the case, Zakaria Pintu, general secretary of BNP's Ishwardy Municipality Wing, Moklesur Rahman Bablu, former mayor of Ishwardy Municipality, and Humayun Kabir, who were all absent from the hearing.

On September 23, 1994, Sheikh Hasina was travelling from Khulna to Saidpur by train and holding rallies at railway stations. As her train reached Pakshey Railway Station in Pabna, it was attacked with crude bombs and gunshots.

Hasina managed to survive the assault carried out during BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's first term as prime minister.

Nazrul Islam, then officer-in-charge of Government Railway Police of Ishwardi station, filed the case against 135 people, including local leaders and activists of BNP and its front bodies, on September 24, 1994.

But the investigation hit a snag during the BNP's rule before picking up speed once the Awami League formed government in 1996.

After investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department submitted a charge sheet against 52 leaders and activists of BNP and associate bodies on April 4, 1997. Five of the accused have already died.