Attack on Sheikh Hasina: 9 BNP activists get death, 25 jailed for life in Pabna

 A court here sentenced nine BNP activists to death and jailed 25 others for life on Wednesday for attacking a train carrying then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in 1994.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Rustom Ali, delivering the verdict in a packed courtroom in the morning, also sentenced 13 others to 10 years in jail.

Two of the convicts are BNP’s Ishwardi municipality unit General Secretary Zakaria Pintu and former president of BNP’s municipality unit Mokhlesur Rahman. 

Advocate Aktaruzzaman Mukta represented the state while Advocate Nurul Islam stood for the accused.

A Rajshahi-bound train carrying Sheikh Hasina was attacked at Pakshi Rail Station on September 23, 1994. The attackers fired shots and hurled bombs at the train.

Nazrul Islam, the then officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Railways Police Station, filed the case. Police pressed charges in court against 52 suspects on April 3, 1997.