United News of Bangladesh

The Appellate Division on Thursday upheld a High Court (HC) order that acquitted all convicts, including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutforzzman Babar, in the sensational August 21 grenade attack case. A seven-member bench, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, passé the order ending the long legal battle. On December 1 last year, the HC overturned the verdict of a lower court in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack, acquitting all convicts, including Tarique Rahman and Babar. On March 19, the state filed an appeal against the HC verdict in the 21st August grenade attack case. Top court sets Sept 4 for verdict on Tarique, others in grenade attack case On July 31, the SC set August 13 to hear the petition filed challenging the HC order. For the past few days, the court heard the petition and finally set September 4 to deliver the verdict. The grenade attack, a shocking incident, occurred on Dhaka's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. On October 10, 2018, a speedy trial tribunal in Dhaka issued a verdict in one of the cases (pertaining to murder and explosives). The tribunal sentenced 19 accused, including former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy education minister Abdus Salam Pintu, to death. Grenade Attack Case: SC adjourns appeal hearing against acquittal of Tarique, Babar Besides, 19 others, including BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, were handed life imprisonment sentences, while 11 accused received various terms of imprisonment and fines. The judgment was subsequently transferred to the HC in 2018, registered as a death reference case.

The Appellate Division has set September 4 to deliver the final verdict on a petition filed challenging a High Court (HC) order that acquitted all convicts, including BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, in the sensational August 21 grenade attack case. A six-member bench, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, on Thursday fixed the date upon completion of appeal hearing. On December 1 last year, the HC overturned the verdict of a lower court in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack, acquitting all convicts, including BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar.   On March 19, the state filed an appeal against the HC verdict in the 21st August grenade attack case. On July 31, the SC set August 13 to hear the petition filed challenging the HC order. Grenade Attack Case: SC fixes Aug 13 to hear appeals againat acquittal of Tarique For the past few days, the court heard the petition and finally set September 4 to deliver the verdict. The grenade attack, a shocking incident, occurred on Dhaka's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. On October 10, 2018, a speedy trial tribunal in Dhaka issued a verdict in one of the cases (pertaining to murder and explosives). The tribunal sentenced 19 accused, including former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy education minister Abdus Salam Pintu, to death. Grenade Attack Case: SC adjourns appeal hearing against acquittal of Tarique, Babar Besides, 19 others, including BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, were handed life imprisonment sentences, while 11 accused received various terms of imprisonment and fines. The judgment was subsequently transferred to the HC in 2018, registered as a death reference case.

The date for hearing on the death reference and appeals of the convicted in the August 21 grenade attack case is expected to be announced by the High Court on Monday, said Attorney General AM Amin Uddin. The death reference of a murder case filed in this regard and appeals were in the cause list of the High Court bench of Justice Sahidul Karim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman on Sunday, he said. But as the case filed under the Explosive Substances Act didn’t come up, the bench asked to enlist it in the cause list for Monday, said Attorney General AM Amin Uddin. On August 21, 2004, a grenade attack was carried out on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue when the BNP-Jamaat alliance was in office. Sheikh Hasina, the then leader of the opposition, was apparently the target. Read more: August 21 grenade attack planned in Hawa Bhaban: Joy At least 24 people, including Awami League women affairs secretary and late President Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, were killed. Three hundred others were also injured. Sheikh Hasina escaped the attack but her hearing was affected badly. A Dhaka court on October 10, 2018, sentenced 19 people, including former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, to death. Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and 18 others were sentenced to life in prison. On October 28, the same year, the case documents along with the judgment copy was sent to the High Court for it to approve the death sentence of the accused. The death reference wing of the High Court scrutinized and prepared the paper book of the respective case, which implies the case is ready for hearing. Read more: Spl show to commemorate Aug 21 grenade massacre Spl show to commemorate Aug 21 grenade massacre On August 16, last year, the paperbook of the grenade attack case reached the Supreme Court. Last August, the Attorney General applied to the Chief Justice for a speedy hearing of the death reference and appeal of this case.