9 get death sentence, 25 life term for attacking train carrying B'desh PM Hasina in 1994

A Bangladeshi court on Wednesday sentenced nine activists of a BNP-led alliance to death and 25 others to life imprisonment for attacking a train carrying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 25 years ago when she was the Opposition leader.

Thirteen other people were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Pabna court, according to media reports.

On September 23, 1994, Hasina was leading a nationwide election campaign by rail and holding rallies at different stations. As her train reached Pakshey railway Station in Pabna's Ishwardi, it was attacked with crude bombs and gunshots. The attack continued till Ishwardi railway station.

Hasina survived the assault carried out during Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia's first term as prime minister.

Pronouncing the verdict in a crowded courtroom, additional sessions judge Rostom Ali sentenced nine people to death, 25 others to life imprisonment and 13 to 10-year jail term for attacking the train.

Expressing satisfaction over the verdict, public prosecutor Akteruzzaman Mukata said, "After a long legal battle, the court punished all 47-charge sheeted accused according to proper witness and evidence."