A Bangladeshi court on Wednesday sentenced nine activists of aBNP-led alliance to death and 25 others to life in prison for attacking PrimeMinister Sheikh Hasina 25 years ago when she was the Opposition leader.
Hasina was leading a nationwide campaign by rail when her coachcame under attack upon arriving in Pabna’s Ishwardy on September 23, 1994.
Hasina survived the assault carried out during BangladeshNationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s first term as prime minister.
A Pabna court sentenced nine people to death and 25 others tolife in prison for attacking the train, media reports said.
Additional Sessions Judge Rostom Ali also jailed 13 people for10 years.
The railway police, as plaintiff, initiated a case against 135people in connection with the incident.
But the investigation hit a snag during the BNP’s rule beforepicking up speed once the Awami League formed government in 1996, reports said.
Police later submitted a charge sheet against 52 accused at theend of the probe.
After the verdict, local BNP activists held a protest on thecourt premises while ruling Awami League supporters and activists held separateprocession expressing satisfaction over the judgement.
The judgement came on a day when Hasina arrived in Beijing on anofficial visit.