Mother of Joj Mia testifies in Aug 21 grenade attack cases

The mother of Joj Mia, who was implicated in the Aug 21 grenade attack cases during the previous BNP-led government, has testified in the cases in a Dhaka court.

Judge Md Shehed Nur Uddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 recorded the deposition of Jobeda Khatun, 70, on Monday as the 102nd witness for the State.

Mia’s sister ‘Khorsheda’ was present at court during the deposition.

Special prosecutor at the tribunal Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan said the court would hear Mia and Khorsheda later.

The defence lawyers on Monday cross-examined Maj Maruf Hossain, an explosives expert who had visited the site after the grenade attack on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka in 2004.

At least 24 people, including Awami League women front’s president Ivy Rahman, were killed and over a hundred, including incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then the leader of the opposition, injured.

Motijheel police filed the two cases -- one over the murders and the other for the use of explosives.

Police arrested Mia from Noakhali on June 9 that year over the incident and pressed charges in 2008.

Investigators later discovered Mia was framed in the case at the instruction of the BNP-led government.