The court sentenced four individuals, including former BNP member of parliament (MP) Habibur Rahman Habib, to life imprisonment in two separate cases in connection with the attack on the convoy of the then opposition leader and current prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Satkhira in 2002. The others were sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Justice Bishwanath Mondal of Special Tribunal-3 of Satkhira gave the verdict on Tuesday at around 11:15 am.
Earlier, after presenting arguments on April 12, the same court fixed the judgment date of the case on April 18. Advocate Aminul Islam, the central leader of BNP presented arguments for the accused. He was joined by Advocate Abdul Majeed (2), Advocate Mizanur Rahman Pintu and Bangladesh Supreme Court Advocate Shahanara Parveen Bakul and others.
On that day, 38 accused including former BNP member of Parliament Habibul Islam Habib were presented before the court from Satkhira District Jail. An accused named Advocate Abdus Sattar is out on bail in this case. Besides, 9 accused are absconding and two have died.
After presenting the arguments, the central leader of BNP, Barrister Aminul Islam, told reporters, "This is a false and fabricated case. It is not possible to recover bullet shells and bomb casings from the place after 12 years of the incident. Even none of the 15 witnesses from the prosecution side said so. I hope the court will do justice."
On August 30, 2002 at 10 am, the then opposition leader and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited a rape victim who is a wife of a freedom fighter at Satkhira Sadar Hospital. On her way back to Jessore from there at around 11 am BNP activists attacked her convoy in front of the party office in Kalaroa. A dozen activists of Awami League were injured in the incident.
In the case filed in this incident, on February 4, 2021, Chief Justice of Satkhira, Hakim Humayun Kabir sentenced 50 leaders and activists, including Habibul Islam Habib, a former member of parliament of Tala-Kaolaroa, to four to ten years.
Charges were framed in two cases under the Arms and Explosives Act on June 14 last year. After presenting evidence and argument in this case, the court fixed April 18 as the day of judgment.
