“The verdict in the August 21 grenade attack cases was given to eliminate the Prime Minister’s political archrivals. BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman is one of the main targets in this elimination process,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “We want proper trial of the terrible grenade attack to be held. So, the given verdict must be revoked immediately and steps will have to be taken for ensuring justice through a complete fair investigation.”
On October 10, Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 at Old Dhaka’s Nazimuddin Road sentenced 19 people to death, 19 others, including Tarique Rahman to life imprisonment, and eight others to different jail terms in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004.
Rizvi alleged that trial was held in the cases without a proper and neutral investigation. “Tarique Rahman was convicted through a farcical trial with a political motive.”
He said the government is trying to attain its two goals -- diverting people’s attention from its misrule and belittling Zia family -- through the verdict.
The BNP leader also claimed that people did not accept the verdict as it was given at the behest of the government.