Sheikh Hasina assassination attempt case: High Court acquits all, including nine sentenced to death

The High Court has acquitted all 47 accused, including nine who had been sentenced to death, in the case related to the bomb and gun attack on a train carrying Sheikh Hasina in Ishwardi, 30 years ago.

The ruling has sparked discussions about the case’s handling and the long-standing legal process.

On Wednesday, February 5, a High Court bench, consisting of Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul-Islam and Justice Hamidur Rahman, announced the verdict after hearing appeals against the previous ruling and reviewing the death reference.

Defense lawyer Advocate Maksud Ullah confirmed the court’s decision.

Following the verdict, Maksud Ullah stated, "The High Court has acquitted all the defendants as the charges against them could not be proven."

The case dates back to September 23, 1994, when Sheikh Hasina, then the leader of the opposition and a former prime minister, was traveling by train from Khulna to Syedpur.

According to the case details, as the train reached Ishwardi station, it was attacked with gunfire and bombs.

The accused individuals were all known to be leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations.

On the same day, a case was filed by Nazrul Islam, who was the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ishwardi GRP (Government Railway Police) station at that time.

Later, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took over the case and submitted a charge sheet on April 3, 1997, against 52 people.

However, five of the accused had passed away over the years, leading to their names being removed from the charge sheet.

After decades of legal proceedings, a court had sentenced BNP leader Zakaria Pintoo and eight others to death on July 3, 2019.

Additionally, 25 individuals were given life imprisonment, while 13 others received 10-year prison terms.

Now, with the High Court’s ruling overturning all previous convictions, the case has once again become a topic of national debate.

While the acquittal brings relief to the accused and their families, it also raises critical questions about the fairness of the trial, the evidence presented, and why it took three decades to reach this conclusion.