Paper book in two to four months in Aug 21 attack case, says law minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq has said it may take two to four months to prepare the paper book on the death references and appeals on the Aug 21 grenade attack case.

He made the statement on Wednesday while speaking to the media on the 15th anniversary of the gruesome attack.

“All I can say is that the process to prepare the paper book on the case has begun. We’re trying our best to prepare the paper book and begin the hearing,” Huq said.

“It takes time. I can tell you that it will be prepared within two to four months. The hearing will begin this year,” he said when reporters reminded him that at least 10 months have passed since the verdict was announced.

On Oct 10 last year, a judicial court sentenced to death 19 persons including the state minister for home affairs of the BNP- Jamaat-e-Islami government Lutfozzaman Babar, Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu for the grenade attack on the Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on Aug  21 in 2004 in a bid to "annihilate the leaders"  of the Awami League.

The court also handed life terms to 19 persons including BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia's the then political secretary Haris Chowdhury.

Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 sentenced at least 11 officials of the police and army charged in the case to different jail terms.

Among the 49 convicts in the case, 16 are at large.

However, the paper book in the case has not been prepared even after 10 months of the verdict.

The case has moved to the High Court as the death references have been filed and those who got life terms have appealed too, said the law minister.

According to the High Court rules, death references and appeals are heard together. The case documents are scrutinised and sent to the BG Press. The hearing begins after the paper book is printed.

Anisul, noting that he is the legal counsel in the case, said, "I can assure you that the process has begun. The prosecution will ensure that the paper book is prepared as soon as possible."

As many as 61 witnesses have testified as of 2014 and 164 more deposed in 2018. In total, 225 witnesses have testified in the case, the law minister said. "And also there are the arguments. Overall, this is a huge case," he said.

"At least 61 witnesses had a long paper book in Bangabandhu assassination case. I believe the paper books in case will be longer. I hope it will be prepared within two to four months. The hearing will start from this year only."

"All convicts who are abroad will be repatriated. We are trying to bring them home," the law minister said when asked about the convicts staying abroad or at large.