Court sets verdict for Aug 20 on plot to kill Hasina at Kotalipara

The court has fixed the date for delivering its verdict over an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 17 years ago.

Court Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 10 August 2017, 01:32 PM
Updated : 10 August 2017, 02:32 PM

Dhaka's Second Speedy Trial Tribunal judge Mamtaj Begum on Thursday scheduled the verdict for Aug 20.

On Jul 20 of 2000, police found two 76-kilogram bombs in a school field at Kotalipara where Hasina, on her first term as prime minister, was meant to address an election campaign rally. 

Of the 25 accused in the two cases filed over an attempted murder and explosives, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami chief Mufti Hannan has already been executed in another case.

Eight are in prison, one has been granted bail while 15 others are fugitives, said defence lawyer Faruk Ahammad.

The court has so far heard 63 witnesses in the case for attempted murder, said special state counsel Syed Shamsul Haque Badal. Thirty-nine have testified in the case filed under the Explosives Act, he said.  

The bombs were discovered while a rally stage was being set up on Sheikh Lutfur Rahman College ground in Kotaliparha, the electoral seat of the Awami League chief.

Hasina was scheduled to address the rally two days later.