Govt to seek harsher punishment for Tarique, two others

Law Minister Anisul Huq has signalled that the government will file an appeal seeking death penalty for three convicts, including Tarique Rahman who was jailed for life, in the 2004 grenade attack.

Huq made the remarks minutes after the verdict on the case on Wednesday, which sentenced 19 people, including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, to death.

The government will seek scaled-up punishments for two others — Harris Chowdhury and BNP leader Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad who along with Tarique have been sentenced to life in prison.

“The mastermind of the case is Tarique Rahman. He should have been given death penalty,” said the law minister.

After receiving a copy of the verdict, the government will decide on an appeal for the death penalty to the three, Huq said.

Bangladesh Mohila Awami League President Ivy Rahman and 23 other leaders and activists were killed and over 500 injured in that attack in front of the Awami League headquarters on Aug 21, 2004.

Investigations revealed that the main target of the attack, which took place when the BNP-Jamaat alliance was in power, was Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.