Satkhira attack on Hasina’s motorcade in 2002: HC starts hearing on rule
The High Court today started hearing on the rule issued more than three years back, questioning 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 HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah began the hearing with AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, the defence lawyer for an accused of the case -- Rakib alias Rakibur Rahman -- placing arguments on the rule.
The bench also fixed September 29 for resuming the hearing on the matter, Additional Attorney General SM Munir told The Daily Star.
Following a petition filed by Rakib, another HC bench of Justice Md Miftah Uddin Choudhury and Justice ANM Bashir Ullah on August 23, 2017 stayed the trial proceedings of the case and issued a rule asking the state why the trial proceedings against Rakib should not be scrapped, SM Munir said.
In the petition, Rakib claimed that he 10 years old when the incident of bomb attack took place on the motorcade of Sheikh Hasina in 2002 and therefore, the trial proceedings of the case that has been filed under the Penal Code against him cannot run.
Rakib's petition also said that the trial proceedings against him could take place under the Child Act, 2013 as he was a minor at the time of bomb attack.
"The trial proceedings of the case remained halted following the High Court's rule and stay order on August 23, 2017. I have recently prayed to the High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah to start hearing on the rule for its disposal," the additional attorney general said, adding that accused Rakib is now on bail in the case.
Police have earlier submitted charge sheet against 50 accused in the case, including Rakib, to the trial court concerned in Satkhira, he added.
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