Attack on Hasina’s train: 8 more BNP men surrender

Eight more convicted BNP men today surrendered before a Pabna court in a case filed over the attack on a train carrying the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in Ishwardi 25 years ago.

They surrendered to the court of Additional District Judge Rustom Ali, said Advocate Akteruzzaman Mukta, public prosecutor of the case.

The convicts -- Amirul Islam Amin, Md Rabi, Azad Hossain Khokon, Md Mamun, and Md Abul Kalam -- were handed life imprisonment in the case.

Later, the court sent them to jail, the public prosecutor told our Pabna correspondent.

With them, a total of 42 out of 47 convicted BNP men have been held till now in the case. Earlier on July 3, a Pabna court convicted 47 BNP men in the case.

Of the convicted, nine were awarded death penalty, 25 got life imprisonment and 13 others get 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment. A total of 34 convicted BNP men were present at the crowded court room during the verdict and they were sent to jail later.

Five other convicts, including one with death sentence, are still absconding, Advocate Akteruzzaman added.

On September 23, 1994, Hasina, now the prime minister, was travelling from Khulna to Saidpur by train and addressed several rallies at different railway stations on the way.

As the train reached Paksey 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 the BNP and its associate bodies.

Police submitted the final report the same year but the court didn’t accept it.

The court ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to reinvestigate. In April 1997, the CID submitted charge sheet against 52. Five of them died later.