Sheikh Hasina murder attempt: HC upholds death sentences of 10 convicts 

The High Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentenced of ten convicts in a case lodged over an attempt to murder Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Kotalipara of Gopalganj in 2000.

An HC bench division virtual bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Md Badruzzaman handed down the verdict. 

The death-row convicts are- Wasim Akhter, Rashed driver alias Abul Kalam, Yusuf alias Abu Musa Harun, Sheikh Farid alias Maulana Shawkat Osman, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakkar, Hafez Maulana Yahia, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hye, Maulana Abdur Rauf alias Abu Omar. 

Earlier on 1 February, the court set February 17 to pass its judgment on death reference and jail appeals of the convicts.

The court fixed the date after both the state and the defence concluded their parts of the hearing on the matter.

On 20 August, 2017, Dhaka 2nd Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced 10 people to death in the case, as Judge Mamtaz in her order said the convicts can be executed either by hanging or by shooting, with permission from the High Court.

According to the case documents, army men recovered a 76kg powerful bomb on 22July, 2000, from the premises of Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Government Ideal College when a podium was being made for the prime minister's rally.

Another powerful bomb was recovered in the area the very next day. Then Kotalipara police station sub-inspector Nur Hossain filed a case in this regard on that day.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) assistant superintendent of police Munshi Atikur Rahman on 8 April, 2001, filed a charge sheet against Harkat ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and others.

Later the case was transferred to the Dhaka court.

Mufti Hannan has already been executed on 12 April, 2017, for a grenade attack at Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) shrine in Sylhet in 2004. 

His name was dropped from the prime minister murder attempt case.