NSI Assistant Director Yusuf Hossain divulged the information while testifying in the case filed over the attack that left 24 people killed and scores including incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina injured.
The Awami League has been alleging that the grenade attack was planned at the Hawa Bhaban.
Yusuf was the 66th witness to depose in the case being tried at the First Speedy Trial Tribunal set up at Nazim Uddin Road in the capital.
Retired Brigadier Gen Abdur Rahim, then DG of the NSI, the leading civilian intelligence agency, is one of the 52 people who stand accused in the case, including Khaleda and her elder son Tarique Rahman.
Following a further probe into the case, Criminal Investigation Department of the police included the name of Rahim on the accused list.
According to Hossain, he was tasked to look after Rahim from Aug 12 to 25, 2004, when he was at the Combined Military Hospital for treatment.
He said Rahim had visited Hawa Bhaban while he was officially ill.
“Constable Monwar and I looked after the DG sir at the CMH by turns. We carried walkie-talkie during our duty.”
“While on duty, I could not find the (DG’s driver) at the waiting room. Asked on his return, he (the driver) said he had taken sir to Hawa Bhaban at Banani.”
Assistant Director Hossain first heard about the Aug 21 grenade attack on the Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on his walkie-talkie at 4:30pm the same day.
“I informed DG sir about the news. When he inquired about the condition of Sheikh Hasina, I told him that she had survived the attack, though she was critically injured.”
Defence lawyers questioned the NSI AD after he completed his deposition. Judge Shahed Nur Uddin adjourned the proceedings until the next sitting of the court on Monday.
Hossain is set to be questioned for the second day by the defence lawyers on Monday, said Chief Prosecutor Syeed Rezaur Rahman.
The Awami League also says that after the investigation into the attack was opened, the then BNP-led government tried to pervert it.
CID pressed charges against 22, mostly linked with militant organisations, in 2008 during the tenure of the 2007-8 military-backed caretaker government.
Further investigation was ordered after the Awami League assumed power, and CID submitted a supplementary charge-sheet accusing 30 more in the case.
Names of then State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, his brother Moulana Tajuddin and Khaleda’s Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury were included on the new list of accused.
