Agencies DHAKA

The Bangladesh High Court on Tuesday acquitted all the 47 accused, including nine people who were sentenced to death, from the case filed over the attack on a train carrying the then opposition leader, Sheikh Hasina, in Ishwardi 30 years ago.

The HC also scrapped the trial court judgment, which sentenced nine people to death, life imprisonment to 25, and 10-year jail sentence to 13 accused in the case. The High Court also asked the jail authorities to immediately release the accused, who are in the prison.

The HC Bench of Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam and Justice Md Hamidur Rahman delivered the verdict after holding hearing on the death reference (trial court documents for confirmation of death sentence) and appeals filed by the convicted accused against the lower court judgement in the case, Advocate Maksud Ullah, a defence lawyer told The Daily Star.

He said the HC acquitted the accused from the case as the allegations brought against them were not proved. There was no eyewitness in the case, he said, adding that those who have made statements as witnesses before the magistrate concerned were the people from a particular political party, Awami League.

On September 23,1994, the former premier was travelling from Khulna to Niphamari's Saidpur by train and addressed several rallies at different railway stations on the way. According to the case statement, as the train reached Paksey station in Ishwardi, it came under attack. Crude bombs were hurled and shots were fired. The attack continued until the train reached Ishwardi station.