Man convicted of Hasina’s motorcade attacker dies

An inmate convicted in a case over the 2002 attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s motorcade in Satkhira has died at Satkhira Sadar Hospital on Sunday, according to jailor Abul Bashar.

Hailing from the district’s Kalaroa Upazila, 60-year-old Abdus Sattar  was sent to the hospital at night after he felt chest pain, he added.

Kaila Union Council Chairman Sheikh Sohel Rana confirmed the involvement of the inmate in the attack on the then-opposition leader and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s motorcade in Satkhira on Aug 30, 2002.

Sattar, who leaves behind two children, was a teacher at Kaila Government High School, according to ward No. 7 member Abdul Ahad.

“Sattar was brought to the hospital’s emergency unit from the prison around 8:10 pm and declared dead in 10 minutes after a test,” physician Saiful Islam said.

The body will be handed over to his family after an autopsy and legal procedures, Satkhira Police Station chief Md Mohidul Islam said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‍‍`s motorcade was attacked in front of the Kalaroa Upazila BNP office in Satkhira when the BNP-led four-party alliance government was in power.

Sheikh Hasina was on her way to Magura after visiting a rape victim and wife of a freedom fighter at Satkhira Sadar Hospital.

When her motorcade reached the Kalaroa Upazila BNP office area, a group of terrorists attacked with machetes, bombs, and firearms.

Several people, including former MP Mujibur Rahman, were injured when the terrorists fired on the convoy and detonated bombs.

On the same day, Kalaroa Upazila Freedom Fighter, Commander Moslem Uddin, filed a case.

Upon investigating the case, police filed a charge sheet against 50 people, including then-BNP MP Habibul Islam.

The charges against the accused say the attack aimed to assassinate Sheikh Hasina.

In dealing with the three separate charge sheets filed under the attempted murder, explosives, and firearms acts, the lower court, on 4 February, gave the verdict for the attempted murder case.

All 50 accused were sentenced to different jail terms in that verdict.