The High Court on Thursday fixed February 5 for delivering its order on the appeals filed against the trial court judgement sentencing nine people to death and life imprisonment to 25 others in a case over the attack on a train carrying the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in Pabna's Ishwardi 30 years ago.
The HC bench comprising Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam and Justice Md Hamidur Rahman fixed the date for delivering the verdict after concluding the hearing on the death reference and appeals filed by those convicted in the case.
Earlier on 10 September last year, 18 individuals, who were convicted in a case relating to the attack on the train convoy of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, were released on bail. The convicts were freed from Rajshahi Central Jail following a bail order issued by Pabna Additional District Judge Court-2.
On 23 September 1994, Sheikh Hasina was travelling from Khulna to Saidpur by train and addressed several rallies at different railway stations on the way. According to the case statement, as the train reached Paksey station in Ishwardi, it came under attack. Crude bombs were hurled and shots were fired. The attack continued until the train reached Ishwardi station. Many were injured while the Awami League president was unhurt.
Following the attack, Nazrul Islam, the then officer-in-charge of Ishwardi General Railway Police Station, filed a case against five members of the BNP and its associate bodies. On 3 July 2019, a Pabna court sentenced nine people to death and also handed down life sentences to 25 accused and 10-year rigorous imprisonment to 13 others in the case filed under the Explosives Substances Act, 1908.
