The fate of 49 people, including BNP acting chief Tarique Rahman, in the cases over the Aug 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally will be decided on Oct 10.
Published : 18 Sep 2018, 02:25 PM
Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 judge Shahed Nuruddin set the verdict date for the sensational cases after he ended hearing arguments of both sides on Tuesday.
The then home minister of the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami government Lutfozzaman Babar, former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, former National Security Intelligence chief Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury, and 20 others accused in the cases were produced in the court on Nazimuddin Road in Dhaka.
After setting the date, the judge ordered three former inspectors general of police – Md Ashraful Huda, Shahudul Haque and Khuda Baksh Chowdhory, BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s nephew Saiful Islam Duke, and four others, who were out on bail, into jail. Former NSI DG Abdur Rahim is also behind bars over the attack.
The trial had continued with the 18 other accused, including Khaleda’s son Tarique and her former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, absconding. The fugitives also include former MP and BNP leader Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad and Hanif Paribahan’s owner Mohammad Hanif.
Accused of killings in one of the cases and under the explosives act in the other, they face up to death penalty.
Three other accused, former minister and Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Harkat-ul Jihad-al-Islam or HuJI leaders Mufti Abdul Hannan and Sharif Shahedul Alam alias Bipul had been hanged after convictions in other cases.
The state side has alleged that the then top leaders of the BNP-Jamaat alliance backed the attack by HuJI militants to have the Awami League leaderless by killing its chief Sheikh Hasina.
Tarique, the eldest son of the then prime minister Khaleda, masterminded the attack and helped the attackers flee, the state has alleged.
The BNP acting chief, Tarique, has been in London for 10 years. He was sentenced to jail for seven years for laundering money and for 10 years for corruption in Zia Orphanage Trust.
The defence alleged the government had him charged in the cases after further investigation for political gains.
On the last day of hearing, defence lawyer SM Shahjahan presented arguments. Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Abdur Rezak Khan, among other defence lawyers, were also present.
State’s chief counsel Syed Rezaur Rahman presented the closing arguments. He sought capital punishment of all the accused. State’s special counsel Mosharraf Hossain Kajal was also present.
Judge Nuruddin said, “Everything in this court has become very dear to me during the course of this long trial. I’ve kept no gap in the trial.”
He also thanked the lawyers, journalists, court officials and law enforcers related to the cases for their cooperation in the trial.
TARGET HASINA
Hasina, now the prime minister, narrowly escaped death in the attack believed to be an assassination attempt on her when she was the leader of the opposition.
The grenades began exploding, accompanied by gunfire, as Hasina, after wrapping up her address, was stepping off a truck, which was used as a dais at the rally. Detectives said 13 to 14 grenades were detonated.
Security personnel and party men formed a human wall around Hasina and got her to her car and took her away.
She suffered hearing problems in the attack.
The BNP-led government formed a one-member investigation committee comprising of High Court Justice Jainul Abedin. The Awami League rejected his probe report.
An investigation team formed by the Supreme Court Bar Association, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, also issued a report that said Hasina was the prime target of the attack.
She recently said she strongly believed Khaleda’s family were involved in the grenade attack.
The BNP said Hasina’s comments on the issue ‘proved’ that the government was trying to influence the verdict.
‘DIVERTING COURSE OF PROBE’
The first three investigation officers of the case -- CID special superintendent Ruhul Amin, and two ex-CID ASPs Munshi Atiqur Rahman and Abdur Rashid – are also among the accused now. They were among the eight sent to jail on Tuesday.
The three investigation officers are accused of attempts to divert the investigation by showing one Joj Mia as the attacker.
CID's assistant police superintendent Fazlul Kabir pressed charges against 22 people in June, 2008 -- during the caretaker government -- although the investigation made no progress during the BNP-Jamaat government.
After the Awami League came to power in 2009, investigator Akanda filed a supplementary charge-sheet accusing 30 more including Tarique, Babar and Mujaheed.
Those newly included in the charge sheet were indicted and their trial started in 2011.
THE VICTIMS
Bangladesh Mohila Awami League President Ivy Rahman and 23 other leaders and activists were killed and over 500 injured in the attack in front of the Awami League headquarters.
Among the others killed were the party’s Dhaka Metropolitan unit’s adviser Rafiqul Islam.
Hasina’s security team member Lance Corporal (retd) Mahbubur Rashid was also killed.
The other victims are: Awami League’s central sub-committee Deputy Secretary Mostak Ahmed Sentu, Women Awami League leaders Sufia Begum and Hasina Mamtaz, Madaripur Juba League leader Liton Munshi, Ratan Sikdar from Narayanganj, Dhaka Mohanagar Rickshaw Shramil League leader Md Hanif, Nazrul Islam College student Mamun Mridha, Juba League leaders Aminul Islam, Atik Sarkar and Shamsuddin Abul Kalam Azad, Swechhasebak League leader Razia Begum and activist Abdul Kuddus Patwari, Shramik League activists Nasir Uddin Sardar, Abul Kashem, Jahid Ali, Momin Ali and Ishaq Miyah.