The Supreme Court's Appellate Division Sunday upheld its chamber judge's order that stayed the High Court bail to seven convicts in a case filed over the attack on the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina's motorcade in Satkhira in 2002, and extended it till June 20.

The court also asked the state to file a leave to appeal in this connection within this time. Also, the Appellate Division has fixed June 20 for the hearing on the leave to appeal.

A full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order Sunday after hearing the state's appeal.

READ: Attack on Sheikh Hasina: SC stays bail of 7 accused

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state while Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon stood for the convicts.

On May 25, the High Court granted bail to seven convicts in the case – Abdus Sattar, Abdus Samad, Golam Rasul, Rakib, Zahirul, Shahabuddin and Monirul Islam.

However, on May 27, the Appellate Division's Chamber Judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique stayed the bail order until today.

READ: Attack on Hasina: 43 convicts file petition challenging lower court verdict

On August 30, 2002, the then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's convoy came under attack as she was returning to Magura after visiting a freedom fighter's wife in Satkhira's Kalaroa.

Although Hasina survived the attack relatively unscathed, at least 12 people, including Awami League leaders and journalists, were injured, according to the case statement.

On September 2 of that year, former Kolaroa Awami League general secretary Moslem Uddin filed the case against 27 named and 70-75 unnamed accused.

The accused included several BNP leaders and activists in Satkhira. However, the case was later dismissed for not being recorded at the police station.

On February 4 this year, Satkhira Chief Judicial Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced 50 people in the case.

READ: 30 BNP men sent to jail over 1994 attack on Hasina in Pabna

Among them, 34 convicts who were present in the courtroom, were sent behind bars the same day; the others are running away.