(Eds: Updating with prosecution's quotes, background)By Anisur RahmanDhaka, Oct 29 (PTI) A Bangladeshi court today sentenced11 people to 20 years imprisonment for attempting toassassinate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 28 years ago at herfamily residence.
The Dhaka court also handed down life imprisonment to theaccused for blasting bombs on the same day in 1989 at thehouse of Hasina.
The court imposed a fine of 20,000 taka (USD 240) each onthe convicts -- members of the now defunct Bangladesh FreedomParty (BFP) which was behind the killing of Bangladesh's firstpresident and the Father of the nation Bangabandhu SheikhMujibur Rahman in 1975, court officials and lawyers said.
The BFP had toppled Bangladesh's post independence AwamiLeague government after killing Bangabandhu along with most ofhis family members.
"Eight of the convicts faced the trial in person and therests including (Freedom party chief) and sacked lieutenantcolonel Abdur Rashid are on the run," said a prosecutionlawyer of Dhaka Fourth Additional Metropolitan SessionsJudge's Court which tried the case.
Rashid had previously been sentenced to death for themurder of Bangabandhu, the father of Hasina, 70.
Bangabandhu, the Father of the nation and first presidentof Bangladesh, was assassinated in 1975. He is considered tobe the driving force behind the independence of Bangladesh.
The convicts were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment eachin two separate charges, a total of 20 years, officials said.
One accused was acquitted as the charges brought againsthim were not proved.
According to the case, seven or eight armed members ofthe BFP came to the residence of Bangabandhu in Dhanmondi areaon August 11, 1989.
According to the case documents, the assailants attackedthe then opposition leader Hasina's 32 Dhanmandi residence,firing gunshots and exploding bombs. She was unhurt.
Police officials stationed at the premises opened fire atthe attackers but they fled the spot chanting slogans in thename of their leaders, the officials said.
Two cases were lodged and charge sheets naming 16 peoplefiled in February 1997. In July 2009, charges were framedagainst the accused.
Leaders of the ruling Awami League have in the past saidthat assailants have made attempts on Hasina's life at least19 times since the killing of Bangabandhu.
In August, 10 people were sentenced to death in one ofthe Hasina assassination bid cases.
Five of the 1975 coup leaders were hanged eight yearsago. But six others including Rashid went into hiding as thebelated and protracted trial process began 11 years after theincident when Awami League returned to power in 1996 generalelections after 21 years of political wilderness. PTI AR CPSAKJCPS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
