Forty-three convicts filed three separate appeals with the High Court yesterday, seeking acquittal of charges in the case over attacking a train carrying Sheikh Hasina in Ishwardi 25 years ago.

Among the convicted appellants, who are now in jail, eight were sentenced to death, 22 were sentenced to life imprisonment and 13 were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the lower court concerned, their lawyer Barrister Kayser Kamal told The Daily Star. Four convicts are absconding.

Citing the appeals, the lawyer said the verdict delivered by the lower court is politically motivated as the accused are local BNP leaders and activists.

The judge of the trial court did not take the defence evidence into account and the entire judgment relied on statements of 12 interested prosecution witnesses who are former Awami League ministers and local lawmakers, activists, Barrister Kamal said.

He also said an independent witness did not support the statements made by the interested prosecution witnesses.

The defence lawyer said the HC will hold hearing of the appeals on due time.

On July 3 this year, a Pabna court convicted and sentenced nine people to death, 25 to life imprisonment, and 13 to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment in the case filed under Explosives Substances Act, 1908.

All the convicts are leaders and activists of local BNP and its associate organisations, Jahirul Islam, office secretary of BNP’s Pabna district unit, told The Daily Star.

On September 23, 1994, Sheikh Hasina -- the then opposition leader -- was travelling from Khulna to Saidpur by train and addressed several rallies at railway stations on the way.

As the train reached Pakshey Station in Ishwardi, it came under attack. Crude bombs were hurled and shots fired. The attack continued till the train reached Ishwardi station. Many were injured while the AL president was unhurt.

Following the attack, Nazrul Islam, the then officer-in-charge of Ishwardi General Railway Police Station, filed a case against five members of BNP and its associate bodies.