Aug 21 grenade attack case: Tarique Rahman’s lawyer starts arguments

Tarique Rahman’s defence team has begun presenting its arguments in the Aug 21 grenade attack case.

Tarique’s state-appointed defence counsel Abul Kalam Akhtar Hossain claimed his client had nothing to do with the planned attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The lawyer presented his case between 1:45pm and 2:45pm on Monday at the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 in Old Dhaka.

He read the murder and Explosives Act charges against his client and proclaimed his innocence at the hearing. He will resume his statement on Tuesday.

“Militants were involved with the Aug 21 attack. Tarique Rahman is not a militant. He did not support the attackers in any way. His name is not in the depositions. None of the witnesses have discussed Tarique Rahman specifically.”

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The prosecution claimed that the grenade attack on the Sheikh Hasina rally was planned in the presence of Tarique at the Hawa Bhaban.

A total of 24 people were killed and many others injured when a series of grenade ripped through the meeting venue of Awami League, then in opposition, on Bangabandhu Avenue on Aug 21, 2004.

AL chief Sheikh Hasina was addressing the rally at that time.

Many of the injured suffered permanent physical deformities as they were maimed. Hasina suffered a hearing loss and was under treatment at home and abroad for many years.

The Criminal Investigation Department or CID pressed charges in court on Jun 11, 2008 during the military-backed caretaker government.

Some 30 others, including Tarique, were added to the list of suspects following wider investigations after the Awami League came to power in 2009.