Verdict in 1989 case Oct 29

Judgment in the case filed for making an attempt to kill present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 1989 will be delivered on October 29.

After hearing closing arguments from the prosecution and the defence, Md Zahidul Kabir of the Forth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka yesterday set the date for delivery of the judgment.

Earlier, the court recorded statements of 12 prosecution witnesses including that of the complainant and investigation officer of the case.

On August 10, 1989, activists and leaders of Freedom Party allegedly launched an attack on Sheikh Hasina at her residence in Dhanmondi's Road 32.

According to the case statement, Freedom Party members Kajol and Kobir with 10 to 12 men attacked Hasina's residence by hurling bombs and firing gunshots.

While they were leaving the scene, they chanted “Farooq-Rashid Zindabad”.

Following the incident, Zahurul Islam, a security guard of the residence, filed two cases -- one for plotting to kill Hasina and the other for hurling bombs -- with Dhanmondi Police Station.

In 1997, eight years after the attack, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) pressed charges against 19 people including Freedom Party leaders and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's murderers Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid and Bazlul Huda.

On July 5, 2009, charges were framed against 16 accused.

Four of the accused -- Sohel alias Freedom Sohel, Golam Sarwar Mamun, Joj Miah and Syed Nazmul Maksud Murad -- are currently in jail. Four other accused -- Humayun Kabir, Mizanur Rahman, Khandokar Amirul Islam and Md Shahjahan alias Balu -- were freed on bail.

Two others -- Zafar Ahmed and H Kabir -- are absconding while two other accused -- Gazi Liakat Hossain and Rezaul Islam Khan -- died before.

Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid and Bazlul Huda were executed in the Bangabandhu murder case.