The High Court has upheld the death sentence of 10 militants in the case of the attempted assassination of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by planting a bomb at Kotalipara in Gopalganj. At the same time, the life term sentenced to an accused and 14 years rigorous term to another two were also upheld. One has been acquitted in this verdict
A virtual bench comprising High Court Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Md. Badruzzaman handed over the verdict on Wednesday.
Deputy Attorney General of the state Md. Bashir Ullah has confirmed this information.
The death penalty of 10 accused that upheld are – Wasim Akhter, Rashed Driver alias Abul Kalam, Yusuf alias Abu Musa Harun, Sheikh Farid alias Maulana Shawkat Osman, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakkar, Hafez Maulana Yahya, Mufti Abdul Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hai and Maulana Abdur Rauf alias Abu Omar.
Besides, the life term sentence to Mehedi Hasan alias Abdul Wadud was also upheld.
The 14 years rigorous imprisonment and one more year imprisonment for non-payment of a fine of Tk 10,000 to Anisul alias Anis, Md. Mahibullah alias Mofizur Rahman and Sarwar Hossain Mia were upheld too.
On February 1, the state and the defendants presented their arguments on the death reference for approval sent by the lower court and heard the defendant’s appeal in the case (known as the 76 kg bomb case). Later, the concerned bench of the High Court fixed February 17 for announcing the verdict.
It is to be mentioned that Judge Mumtaz Begum of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2, on August 20, 2017, sentenced 10 militants to death in a case of attempting murder to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Besides, four accused were sentenced to different terms.
All the documents including the verdict of the case were sent to the High Court on August 24 of that year. When the documents were then presented to the Chief Justice, he directed to make a paperbook on an urgent basis. The case was put on the agenda at the end of preparation for the hearing.
According to sources, a 76 kg bomb was planted near the meeting place of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Kotalipara, Gopalganj on July 20, 2000. The investigation revealed that the attempted assassination of Sheikh Hasina was planned through an explosion.
SI Nur Hossain of the then Kotalipara police station filed a case in this regard.
On April 8, 2001, charges were filed against 16 people. Subsequently, on June 29, 2009, nine more persons were included as accused and supplementary chargesheets were filed. Then in 2010, the case was sent to Dhaka-2 Speedy Trial Tribunal for disposal. The trial of this case was completed there.
(Source: Online Desk)
