Huji leader Sarwar sent to jail

Convicted criminal Sarwar Hossain Miah -- brother-in-law of executed Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan -- was sent to jail yesterday in the case for planting a 76-kg bomb in Kotalipara to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Judge (in charge) Abdur Rahman Sardar of Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 of Dhaka passed the order after Sarwar through his lawyer surrendered before the court and sought bail in the case.

Earlier on August 20, Huji leader Sarwar was sentenced in absentia to 14 years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 10,000, in default of which he will have to serve one year more in jail.

Ten other leaders and activists of Harkatul Jihad al Islami were also awarded death penalty for attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by planting a bomb weighing 76 kilogrammes in Gopalganj's Kotalipara on July 20 of 2000.

Subject to High Court confirmation, the convicts may be executed by shooting, the judge said in the verdict of the case filed under Special Powers Act.

Besides Sarwar, three others were also given 14 years' rigorous imprisonment while another was given life in jail.

Although the charges brought against Mufti Hannan was proven, he was acquitted after he was earlier executed in a case filed for carrying out bomb attacks on the then British High Commissioner.

The court also acquitted 10 others as charges brought against them were not proven.

The 76kg bomb was found at Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Ideal College in Kotalipara upazila on July 21 in 2000. Sheikh Hasina was supposed to address a rally there the next day.

Another bomb weighing 40kg was found in front of a shop adjacent to the venue.b