Kanu Sanyal, Pabna
A Pabna court on Wednesday sentenced nine persons to death and 25 others to life term imprisonment for attacking a train carrying the then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during an organisational tour at Ishwardi in Pabna in 1994. The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Rustam Ali in crowded court also pronounced 10 years imprisonment to each of the 13 other accused of the case.
The persons convicted with death penalty are- Moklesur Rahman, AKM Akteruzzaman, Jakaria Pintu, Mostafa Nure Alam Shyamal, Mahbubul Alam Palash, Shamsul Alam, Shahidul Islam Atal, Rezaul Karim Shahin and Ashikur Rahman. The train carrying Sheikh Hasina came under attack by miscreants on September 23, 1994 on her way to Rajshahi from Khulna. Sheikh Hasina was holding rallies at different railway stations.
As the train reached Pakshey Railway Station in Pabna’s Ishwardi upazila, it came under attack with bombs and gunshots. The judge pronounced the verdict in presence of 33 of the 52 convicted persons who sought bail on Monday. But the court rejected the bail prayers landing them in jail.The court also issued arrest warrants against the rest of the accused.
Nazrul Islam, the then officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Police Station, filed the case accusing seven persons after the heinous attack but submitted final report one year later in lack of finding no witness of the case. After assuming office in 1996, the Awami League government entrusted CID with the task for reinvestigation into the case. CID found 52 persons, mostly local BNP activists guilty for the attack and accordingly submitted charge sheet before the court on April 4, 1997.
Out of total 52 accused of the case, 33 are in dock while 14 persons remained absconding. Five of the accused persons have died. Public Prosecutor advocate Aktaruzzaman Mukta represented the state while Advocate Nurul Islam appeared for the accused.
