The High Court on Monday released the full text its earlier verdict upholding the death sentences to 10 militants over the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2000.

 The 86-page text was released after the signing of the verdict by HC Justices Jahangir Hossain and Md Badruzzaman who pronounced the verdict virtually on February 17.

The attempt was made in Kotalipara in Gopalganj district.

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In the verdict the HC said “The convicts were unwilling to abide by the law of the land.  Besides, their plan to kill Sheikh Hasina by planting two bombs is terrible crime and we do not support to commute the punishment of some convicts.”

Deputy Attorney General Dr Mohammad Bashirullah, said “The HC has made some observation about some misguided thoughts of the militants. They believe that a woman can’t be the prime minister of an Islamic country”

The death- row convicts are: Asim Akter alias Tarek Hossain, Md Rashed Driver alias Abul Kalam, Md Yusuf alias Moshab Morol, Sheikh Farid alias Maulana Shawkat Osman, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakar, Hafez Maulana Yahiya, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hye and Maulana Abdur Rouf.

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The HC also acquitted Sarwar Hosain who was awarded 14 years’ imprisonment by the lower court.

Besides, the HC issued a directive to release Mahibullah alias Mafizur Rahman who got 14 years’ imprisonment as he has already served the jail term.

The HC upheld the life term and 14 years’ imprisonment of Mehedi Hasan alias Abdul Wadud and Anisul alias Anis, respectively.

On August 20, 2017, the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 in Dhaka sentenced 10 people to death in the case.

Mehedi Hasan alias Abdul Wadud, one of the accused, got life term jail and was fined Tk 10,000 in the case.

The court also gave 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment to three other accused, including Md Anisul Islam alias Anis, and fined them Tk 10,000 each.

A total of 10 people, including Khandaker Kamal Uddin, were also acquitted from the murder attempt charge.

The same court also gave nine people to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined them Tk 20,000 each in another case filed under Explosive Substances Act over the unearthing of 76 kg explosives near the rally venue of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Kotalipara in 2000.

Those sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment are Md Yusuf alias Moshab Morol, Mehedi Hasan alias Abdul Wadud, Asim Akter alias Tarek Hossain, Md Mohibullah alias Mofizur Rahman, Mahmud Azhar, Md Rashed Driver alias Abul Kalam, Md Shah Newaz and Sheikh Md Enamul Haque.

Police recovered a 76-kilogram bomb from near a shop adjacent to Sheikh Lutfur Rahman Govt High School on July 20, 2000 where Sheikh Hasina was supposed to address a rally on July 22 same year.

Another 40-kg heavy bomb was also recovered by an Army bomb expert squad from near the Kotalipara helipad on July 23, 2000.

Nur Hossain, sub-inspector of Kotalipara Police Station, filed a case under the Explosive Substances Act in connection with the bomb recovery incidents.

Police pressed charges against 16 people, including executed Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, on April 8, 2001.

On June 29, 2009, police submitted a complementary charge sheet implicating nine more people.

The case was shifted to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal in 2010.

Meanwhile, Mufti Hannan was executed on April 12, 2017 over the grenade attack on then UK High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury at Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet in 2004.