Attack on Hasina's motorcade in 2002: HC acquits all 44 accused in 2 cases

The High Court today acquitted all the 44 accused, including former BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib, in two cases filed over an attack on the motorcade of the then leader of the opposition and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Satkhira in 2002.

The HC also scrapped the lower court verdict that on April 18, 2023 sentenced four people, including Habibul, to life term imprisonment and 40 people to seven years in jail in the cases.

The bench of Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam and Justice Mubina Asaf came up with the judgement after holding hearing on 38 separate appeals filed by the accused challenging the trial court verdict.

The HC acquitted all the accused of the cases as the state could not prove the allegations brought against them of firing on Sheikh Hasina's motorcade and recovering bullets from their possessions, Advocate Md Aminul Islam, principal defence counsel for the accused, told The Daily Star.

He said all the accused are now on bail in the cases.

The cases were filed against them without any valid document and evidence, Advocate Aminul Islam added.

Deputy Attorney General Mojibur Rahman represented the state during hearing of the appeals.

It was alleged that Sheikh Hasina's motorcade was attacked in front of the Kalaroa Upazila BNP office in Satkhira on August 30, 2002, when the BNP-led four-party alliance government was in power.

The then Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was on her way to Dhaka after attending several programmes in Satkhira and its adjoining areas.

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

After an investigation, the police filed a charge sheet against 50 people in this connection.