9 get death penalty for attacking train carrying Sheikh Hasina

A court here today sentenced nine persons to death and 25 others to life imprisonment for attacking a train carrying the then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during an organizational tour at Ishwardi in Pabna in 1994.

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Rustam Ali also awarded 10 years imprisonment to each of the 13 other accused of the case.

The train carrying Sheikh Hasina came under attack by miscreants on September 23, 1994 on her way to Rajshahi from Khulna in an organizational tour.

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 30 of the 52 accused 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 52 persons, mostly activists of BNP and its cohorts. Police submitted charge sheet against them on April 4, 1997.