Attack on Hasina's convoy in Satkhira

Ex-BNP MP, two others jailed for 10 years

47 get different jail terms

February 05, 2021 00:00:00

Former BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib waving to supporters on Thursday after a Satkhira court sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment in a case for the attack on Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina's convoy in Kalaroa upazila in 2002 — Focus Bangla

SATKHIRA, Feb 04 (UNB): A Satkhira court has sentenced former BNP MP Habibul Islam Habib and two others to 10 years' imprisonment in a case filed over the 2002 attack on Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina's convoy in Kalaroa upazila of the district.

Satkhira Chief Judicial Magistrate Humayun Kabir delivered the verdict when 34 accused out of 50 were present in the dock on Thursday.

Two other convicts of the case who were sentenced to 10-year jail are Arif Hossain and Manirul Islam. The court also sentenced 47 others to different jail terms in the case.

On January 27, the court fixed February 4 for delivering its judgment in the case after closing the law-point arguments of the case.

The court also sent the 34 accused, including former MP Habib, to jail after rejecting their bail petitions on that day.

The 34 accused in the case were produced before the court amid tight security around 10:00 am.

Additional Attorney General SM Munur, who was present on behalf of the state, expressed satisfaction over the verdict.

Besides, Advocate Abdul Majid, a defence lawyer, said they will file an appeal petition against the verdict.

The accused also include Kalaroa's former mayor Akhtarul Islam, Satkhira Bar Association's former general secretary Advocate Abdus Sattar, Advocate of Supreme Court Abdus Samad, three former UP chairmen Ashraf Hossain, Rakibul Islam and Rabiul Islam and other activists of BNP.

Tiger Khokon, one of the 50 accused, is serving jail term in another case. Sixteen others accused in the case, including former councillor Abdul Kader Bacchu, are absconding.

On August 30, 2002, Prime Minister Hasina, the then opposition chief, was returning to Magura after visiting a freedom fighter's ailing wife in Satkhira when her convoy came under attack in Kalaroa upazila.

Hasina survived the attack relatively unscathed but many Awami League leaders and workers were injured along with some journalists.

Mohammad Moslem Uddin, freedom fighter, filed a case against 27 men for the attack which was later dismissed for not being recorded at the police station.