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Published : 21 Aug 2015, 02:59 AM
19 accused in Aug 21 grenade attack case fleeing justice
Interpol’s red corner notice against Tarique Rahman a propaganda strategy: BNP
Interpol issues 'red corner' notice against BNP leader Tarique Rahman
The case bounced back from the tribunal to a regular court after legal complexities surfaced when it was sent to the special court in 2008. It was sent back to the tribunal later.
Two cases over the grisly attack - one for murders and another for use of explosives - are being tried in Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal -1 at Old Dhaka’s Aliya Madrasa premises.
Judge Shahed Nur Uddin on Wednesday recorded statements of witnesses No. 175 and 176 and will hold further hearings on Aug 24 and 25.
Speaking to bdnews24.com, State’s chief counsel Syed Rezaur Rahman claimed the proceedings were on fast track but added, “I hoped I would be done with testimonies by August, but that is not going to happen,” he told.
“Now we are trying to settle the cases as fast as possible ensuring a fair trial,” he added.
But an accused, former BNP deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu’s lawyer Mohammad Ali alleged the negligence on the part of the prosecution was slowing down the trial.
“They took three years from 2009 to 2011 to reinvestigate the cases in phases. Besides the reinvestigations, many witnesses are being called unnecessarily and their statements are being recorded,” he said.
He, however, claimed the trial was going fast now.
As the parliamentary watchdog on law ministry is pressing for fast completion of the trial, the families of 24 killed in the attack and those injured are waiting for the judgment.
The attack was carried out on the Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue during the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami government’s tenure in 2004.
Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister who then was the opposition leader, was the chief guest of the rally.
She was getting off the truck used as the dais when the assailants charged the grenades. Detectives said 13 to 14 grenades were exploded that day.
The deceased included late president Zillur Rahman’s wife and Bangladesh Mohila Awami League president Ivy Rahman. The attack damaged Hasina’s hearing.
Late Dhaka mayor Mohammad Hanif was among over 500 injured.
Sub-Inspector Sharif Faruk Ahmed filed a case at Motijheel Police Station on the following day. Detective Branch investigated the attack before the CID was finally put in charge.
The investigation during the BNP-led government was diverted to other directions.
The first three investigation officers -- CID Special Superintendent Ruhul Amin, and two ex-CID ASPs Munshi Atiqur Rahman and Abdur Rashid -- are accused of attempts to divert the investigation by showing a vagabond, ‘Joj Mia’, as the attacker.
Mia is a witness of the case now.
The military-backed caretaker government of 2007-8 ordered fresh investigation.
The cases were sent to the Speedy Trial Tribunal later that year.
After Hasina formed the government in 2009, the court tasked Akanda with the investigation on Aug 3 that year.
Akanda submitted the supplementary chargesheet naming 30 more people. They included BNP Senior Vice-Chairman and Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, her political secretary Harris Chowdhury, former minister and Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, former deputy minister Pintu, and former MP Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad on July 2, 2011.
Akanda in the chargesheet said Khaleda’s political office Hawa Bhaban also played a part in the attack.
He said influential people linked to the Hawa Bhaban gave HuJI, B and top officials of several state agencies the assignment.
Former police chiefs Ashraful Huda, Khoda Baksh Chowdhury and Shahidul Huq, and top CID officials Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Munshi Atiqur Rahman and Abdur Rashid surrendered to the court within a week after they were named in the supplementary chargesheet.
