1994 Assassination Attempt on Hasina: All accused, including 9 on death row, acquitted

The High Court has acquitted all 47 accused, including the nine individuals who had been sentenced to death, in the case related to the assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ishwardi Railway Station in Pabna.

The verdict was announced on Wednesday (February 5) by a bench comprising Justice Muhammad Mahbub us Islam and Justice Hamidur Rahman.

Advocate Kayser Kamal, accompanied by Advocate Maksud Ullah, represented the defence. Additionally, defence lawyers Jamil Akhter Elahi and AHM Kamruzzaman Mamun participated in the hearing. On behalf of the state, Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Mujibur Rahman argued the case.

Earlier, following hearings on the death references, appeals, and jail appeals of the accused, the High Court had set February 5 as the date for the verdict, after concluding proceedings on January 30.

In the initial verdict delivered on July 3, 2019, by the acting judge of Special Tribunal-3 and Pabna Additional District and Sessions Judge Md Rustam Ali, nine individuals were sentenced to death, 25 were given life imprisonment, and 13 were sentenced to 10 years in prison.

All the convicted individuals were identified as former and current leaders and activists of BNP, Chhatra Dal, and Jubo Dal.