Relatives of those acquitted in the August 21 grenade attack case have expressed relief following the High Court's verdict, which overturned the lower court's verdict.

Tahmina Zaman, wife of former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, who was sentenced to death in the case, shared her relief, saying, "Only the victims can understand how hard it is to wait for justice for so long. After a long wait, we finally got justice. We thank Allah Almighty, Alhamdulillah."

BNP Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, also grateful for the verdict, recited 'Alhamdulillah' three times to express his thanks to Allah.

In the case, former MP from Cumilla and BNP Vice-Chairman Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad was sentenced to life imprisonment.

His younger brother, Kazi Arefin, reacted emotionally after the verdict.

He said, "I regret that my mother could not see my brother released from prison. When I heard the verdict today, I remembered a verse from the Quran: 'They plan, and Allah also plans. And Allah is the best of planners.' With this verdict, Bangladesh has been freed from disgrace. I pray for the forgiveness of the souls of the martyrs."

He also added, "The happiest person today would have been my mother, but she passed away before hearing the news.”

Kazi Shah Arefin further shared, "I am grateful to Allah after today's verdict, even though my mother could not see my brother's release."

BNP celebrates Tarique, others' acquittal in Aug 21 grenade attack case

Meanwhile, Safa, the 17-year-old daughter of Jahangir Alam, a businessman from Kushtia who was wrongfully charged in the case due to a name mix-up, also expressed her emotions. She said, "When I was four months old, my father was sent to jail in a false case. Now I am 17, and my father has been in jail for 17 years."

The verdict has brought mixed emotions for the families, as they reflect on years of waiting for justice and the loss of loved ones who were unable to see the outcome.

Earlier, an HC bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the judgement on Sunday.

The court also declared the chargesheet in the case illegal.