BNP ex-MP Habibul, 3 others sentenced life term, 44 more jailed

A local court has sentenced four people including BNP former MP Habibul Islam Habib life term in two cases filed over an attack on then opposition leader and current prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Besides, 44 accused have been sentenced seven years each in the cases.

Judge of Satkhira's special tribunal-3 Biswanath Mandal delivered the verdict at 10:00am on Tuesday.

Satkhira court additional public prosecutor Faimul Haque confirmed the matter to Prothom Alo.

About the verdict, the accused's lawyer Abdul Mujid said they are not satisfied with this verdict. They would go to the higher court against this verdict.

Of the three cases filed over the attack on Sheikh Hasina motorcade, the court delivered the verdict in one case on 4 February 2021. Satkhira chief judicial magistrate Humayun Kabir sentenced 50 leaders and activists including Habibul Islam 4 to 10 years in jail.

APP Faimul Haque said the court sentenced former MP Habibul Islam, upazila then Jubo Dal president Quader Bacchu, Kolaroa municipality then Jubo Dal president Arifur Rahman and former Chhatra Dal president Ripon life term among 48 accused in two cases filed under the Arms and Explosives Act.

The court sentenced 44 accused to seven years in jail.

Faimul Haque said 34 accused including Habibul Islam, who are in jail, appeared in the court. Of the five on bail, lawyer Abdus Chhattar was present. Besides, nine accused are on the run in the beginning. Two accused died in jail.

Police and party sources said then opposition leader and current prime minister Sheikh Hasina went to Satkhira sadar hospital to see a rape victim woman on 30 August 2002.

On the way to Jashore from there, the motorcade came under an attack in front of Kolaroa upazila BNP office.

The attackers fired targeting Sheikh Hasina and they also blasted bombs. Sheikh Hasina escaped the attack narrowly. Some 15-20 vehicles were vandalised. Some 12 leaders and activists were injured in the attack.

Satkhira-1 constituency then MP Habibul Islam and his leaders and activists allegedly were behind the attack.

In connection with this incident, upazila Awami League former general secretary Moslem Uddin went to file a case with Kolaroa police station against 27 people including Jubo Dal president Ashraf Hossain and accusing 70 to 75 unnamed persons. Police, however, did not record the case.

After 12 years on 15 October 2014, a case was filed with Satkhira court. The court ordered the Kolaroa police station to record the case.