Attack on Sheikh Hasina's convoy: Fugitive convict arrested

Police have arrested a fugitive who was convicted of attacking the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's convoy in Satkhira 19 years ago.

Tarikuzzaman alias Kanak, was nabbed by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) from the capital’s Mirpur area on Sunday.

Iftekhairul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of DMP's Media and Public Relations Division, confirmed the matter to the press.

On August 30, 2002, Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader, was returning to Magura after visiting a freedom fighter's wife in Satkhira when her convoy came under attack in Kalaroa upazila of the district.

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Hasina survived the attack relatively unscathed but many Awami League leaders and workers were injured along with some journalists.

Kalaroa Mohammad Moslem Uddin, freedom fighter, filed a case against 27 men for the attack which was later dismissed for not being recorded at the police station.

The case was reopened on October 15, 2014 and police pressed charges in court against 50 accused in this connection.

On May 17, 2015, inspector Sheikh Shafiqur Islam, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted charge sheet against 50 people in the case.

Then a Satkhira court this February sentenced 50 people – including former BNP MP Habibul Islam Habib of Satkhira 1 constituency – in different terms over their involvement in the 2002 attack.

During the verdict, 34 of them were presented in front of the court while the rest were on the run.