Staff Reporter :
The High Court observed in a full verdict that militancy and militant activities need to be eradicated from this country forever for the greater interest of the people.
It also observed that the perpetrators’ plan to kill Awami League leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by blasting bombs in Gopalganj in 2000 is a scandalous chapter in the country’s history.
The horrific activities of the condemn prisoners, convicts and appellants were, without a doubt, deliberate, calculated and cold-blooded backed by persistent ferocity, also read the full 86-page full verdict published on the Supreme Court website on Monday.
In the verdict, Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Md Badruzzaman confirmed the death penalty of 10 leaders and
activists of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji) for attempting to kill the Prime Minister by planting a 76kg bomb at Kotalipara in 2000.
The HC upheld the life imprisonment of one convict and 14 years’ imprisonment of two other convicts. But it acquitted one convict who was also given 14 years by the trial court in the case.
On February 17 this year, the HC bench delivered the verdict on the death reference (lower court documents) and appeals in connection with the case for attempting to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The death convicts are— Wasim Akter alias Tarek, Rashed alias Abul Kalam, Md Yusuf Alias Abu Musa Harun, Sheikh Farid alias Maulana Shawkat Osman, Hafez Zahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Hafez Selim Howlader, Hafez Maulana Yahia, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hye and Maulana Abdur Rauf alias Abu Omar.
Four of the death convicts, Md Yusuf Alias Abu Musa Harun, Hafez Zahangir Alam Badar, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman and Mufti Abdul Hye, are absconding.
The HC upheld the life term imprisonment of Mehedi Hasan alias Abdur Wadud. It also upheld the lower court verdict that sentenced Anisul Islam alias Anis and Mohibullah alias Mofizur Rahman to 14 years’ imprisonment.
The HC, however, ordered the authorities to release Anisul Islam and Mohibullah as they have already served 14 years’ jail sentence.
The HC bench acquitted Sarwar Hossain Mia as the state has failed to prove the allegations brought against him.
The 76kg bomb was recovered at Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Ideal College of Kotalipara in Gopalganj on July 21, 2000. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was supposed to address a rally there the next day.
