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The defence prayed to the HC to acquit their clients, saying the trial court delivered the verdict based on confession by Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan.

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

Then sub-inspector Nur Hossain of Kotalipara Police Station filed the case under the Explosive Substances Act.

CID submitted charge sheet against Hannan and 24 others on April 8, 2001, with 83 people as prosecution witnesses.

Gopalganj District and Sessions Judge’s Court framed charges against the 25 accused on July 2 the same year.

The Gopalganj court recorded statements of 40 prosecution witnesses, including the case’s complainant. The case was then shifted to the Speedy Trial Tribunal for quick disposal.

The tribunal-2 in Dhaka on August 20, 2017 handed down death sentence to 10 leaders and activists of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji). Besides, one was sentenced to life and three were handed 14 years in prison. Of the accused, 13 are in jail while 11 are on the run.

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

Huji leader Mufti Hannan was found guilty but was acquitted as he was executed on April 12, 2017 at Kashimpur High-Security Prison for killing three people and injuring former British commissioner to Bangladesh and a dozen others in Sylhet in 2004.