Attack On Hasina’s Motorcade: HC clears way to resume trial

The High Court yesterday cleared the way for the lower court concerned to resume the trial proceedings of a case filed over the attack on motorcade of the then opposition leader and now Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Satkhira in 2002.

The court lifted its stay order and also discharged the rule issued more than three years back, questioning the proceedings. It also directed the trial court to finish the trial proceedings in three months.

The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain delivered the verdict after virtually holding hearing on the rule.

AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, the lawyer for Rakib alias Rakibur Rahman, an accused of the case, told The Daily Star that the HC has discharged the rule as the trial court has recorded the statements from the witnesses.

Mahbub Uddin, however,  said his client   will move an appeal before the Appellate Division, challenging the HC order as he was 10 years old during the incident.

The case is now pending with the chief judicial magistrate court in Satkhira, he informed.

Following a petition filed by Rakib, another HC bench on August 23, 2017 stayed the trial proceedings.

During hearing on the rule recently, Mahbub Uddin told the HC that the proceedings against his client could take place under the Child Act, 2013 as he was a minor at the time.

Meanwhile, Additional Attorney General SM Munir told the HC that Rakib was 32 years old during the incident as per the FIR. He did not inform the court that he was 10 during the time and therefore there is no legal bar to run the trial against him.

Police earlier submitted charge sheet against against 50 accused including Rakib to the trial court.