Kotalipara bomb plot: HC confirms death of 10 Huji men

The High Court today confirmed the death penalty of 10 leaders and activists of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji) for attempting to kill Awami League leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by planting a 76kg bomb at Kotalipara in 2000.

The HC upheld the life imprisonment of one convict and 14 years' imprisonment of two convicts. It also acquitted one convict in the case.

The bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Md Badruzzaman came up with the verdict after hearing the death reference of the case and the appeals filed by the convicts challenging the lower court verdict against them.

The convicts whose death sentence was confirmed by the HC are -- Wasim Akter alias Tarek, Rashed alias Abul Kalam, Yusuf Alias Moshab Morol, Sheikh Farid alias Maulana Shawkat Osman, Hafez Zahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Hafez Selim Howlader, Hafez Maulana Yahia, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hye and Maulana Abdur Rauf alias Abdur Razzaque.

The HC upheld the life term imprisonment of Mehedi Hasan alias Abdur Wadud. It upheld the lower court verdict that sentenced Anisul Islam alias Anis and Mohibullah alias Mofizur Rahman to 14 years' imprisonment.

The HC, however, ordered the authorities to release Anisul Islam and Mohibullah as they have already served 14 years' jail sentence.

The HC bench acquitted Sarwar Hossain Mia as the state has failed to prove the allegations brought against him.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, Additional Attorney General Sheikh Md Morshed and Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah appeared for the state while Amulya Kumar Sarker placed arguments as state defence lawyer for the absconding convicts and lawyers SM Shahjahan, Mohammad Ahsan and Mohammad Nasiruddin stood for the convicts in jail.

During hearing, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin prayed to the HC to uphold the trial court verdict in the case, saying that the convicted accused have committed a very serious and unpardonable offence by planting 76kg bomb in order to kill AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Had the bomb gone off, an incident like 2004's August 21 grenade attack could have taken place.

The defence lawyers prayed to the HC to acquit their clients, saying that the trial court has delivered the verdict only on the basis of the confessional statement made by Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan.

The 76kg bomb was recovered at Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Ideal College of Kotalipara in Gopalganj on July 21, 2000. Sheikh Hasina was supposed to address a rally there the next day.

The then Sub-inspector Nur Hossain of Kotalipara Police Station filed the case under the Explosive Substances Act following the incident.

Criminal Investigation Department submitted the charge sheet against Mufti Hannan and 24 others on April 8, 2001, showing 83 people as prosecution witnesses.

Gopalganj District and Sessions Judge's Court framed charges against the 25 accused on July 2 the same year.

The Gopalganj court recorded statements of 40 prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case. The case was then shifted to the Speedy Trial Tribunal for quick disposal.

The Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 in Dhaka on August 20, 2017 awarded death sentence to 10 leaders and activists of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji).

Besides, Mehedi Hasan alias Abdur Wadud was sentenced to life and Anisul Islam alias Anis, Mohibullah alias Mofizur Rahman and Sarwar Hossain Mia were handed 14 years in prison.

Of the accused, 13 are in jail while 11 are on the run. The court acquitted 10 others, as charges brought against them were not proven.

Huji leader Mufti Hannan was found guilty but was acquitted as he was executed on April 12, 2017 at Kashimpur High-Security Prison for killing three people and injuring former British high commissioner to Bangladesh and a dozen others in Sylhet.