Staff Correspondent

The High Court will deliver its verdict on February 17 on the case filed for attempting to kill Awami League leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by planting a 76kg bomb at Kotalipara in 2000.

The HC bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Md Badruzzaman yesterday fixed the date after concluding hearing on the death reference (lower court documents) and appeals of the convicts against the lower court judgement on them.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, Additional Attorney General Sheikh Md Morshed and Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah appeared for the state while Amulya Kumar Sarker placed arguments as state defence lawyer for the absconding convicts. Lawyers SM Shahjahan, Mohammad Ahsan and Mohammad Nasiruddin stood for the convicts in jail.

During hearing, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin prayed to the HC to uphold the trial court verdict saying that the convicted accused have committed a very serious and unpardonable offence.

The defence prayed to the HC to acquit their clients saying that the trial court has delivered the verdict on the basis of the confessional statement made by Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan.

The bomb was recovered at Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Ideal College of Kotalipara in Gopalganj on July 21, 2000. Hasina was supposed to address a rally there the next day.