Kotalipara bomb plot to kill Hasina ‘an ignominious chapter in history’: HC full verdict says

The High Court, in the full text of verdict over Kotalipara bomb plot, observed that militant activities need to be eradicated from the country for good, for the interest of people.

The perpetrators' plan to kill Awami League leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by blasting bombs in Gopalganj in 2000 is an ignominious chapter in the history of Bangladesh, the HC said in the 86-page full text of verdict which was released today (Monday).

In the verdict, Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Md Badruzzaman confirmed the death penalty of 10 leaders and activists of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji) for attempting to kill the prime minister 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.

On February 17 this year, the HC bench had delivered the verdict on the death reference (lower court documents) and appeals in connection with the case for attempting to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Delivering the verdict, the HC bench on that day (February 17) said if perpetrators were successful in implementing their plan to blast two powerful bombs, weighing 76kg and 40kg respectively, in Gopalganj's Kotalipara in July 2000, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was supposed to address a rally there, the incident would be similar to the August 15 massacre.

The HC said the 76kg bomb was recovered on July 21, 2000, and two days later, the 40kg bomb was recovered at Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Ideal College in Kotalipara, where Awami League President and the then leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina was supposed to address the rally on July 22, 2000.