HC resumes hearing on death reference over Kotalipara bomb plot

DHAKA, Sept 16, 2020 (BSS) – A virtual bench of the High Court today resumed hearing on the death reference of the case filed for attempting to kill Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by planting a 76kg bomb at Kotalipara in 2000.

The HC bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Md Badruzzaman began the hearing.

Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah read out the operating part of trial court verdict from the paper book during the hearing.

After concluding the day’s proceedings, the bench set September 23 for further hearing on the case.

A paper book contains all the details of the case, trial proceedings, statements, evidence, verdicts and other documents. The book is necessary for the HC to hear and dispose of a death reference or an appeal.

When a trial court sentences any person to death, the documents of the case and the copy of the verdict is sent to the HC in seven days after its pronouncement.

The Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 in Dhaka on August 20, 2017, awarded death sentence to 10 leaders and activists of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji).
The convicts are Wasim Akter alias Tarek, Md Rashed Driver alias Abul Kalam, Md Yusuf Alias Moshat Morol, Md Sheikh Farid alias Maulana Shawkat Osman, Hafej Zahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Hafej Selim Howlader, Hafej Maulana Yahia, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hye and Maulana Abdur Rauf alias Abdur Razzaque.

Besides, Mehedi Hasan alias Abdur Wadud was sentenced to life and Anisul Islam alias Anis, Mohibullah alias Mofizur Rahman and Sarwar Hossain Mia were handed 14 years in prison.

Huji leader Mufti Hannan was found guilty but was dropped from the case as he was executed on April 12, 2017, at Kashimpur High-Security Prison for killing three people and injuring former British high commissioner to Bangladesh and a dozen others in Sylhet 15 years ago.

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.

The then sub-inspector Nur Hossain of Kotalipara Police Station filed the case under the Explosive Substances Act following the incident.

Of the accused, 13 are in jail while 11 are on the run. The court acquitted 10 others, as charges brought against them were not proven.

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