The High Court has observed that the August 21, 2004 grenade attack case should be sent to the Home Ministry for a fresh investigation by a qualified and expert agency to ensure justice. The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain made the remarks while delivering the full text of its verdict on Thursday. The HC also directed the concerned office to forward a copy of this order to the Home Ministry for appropriate and necessary action. "It is a heinous, tragic incident in the history of this country, where many people lost their lives, including then Awami League leader Ivy Rahman. The killings need to be investigated properly and independently to ensure justice, which has been completely absent in this case until today. In this context, we believe the case should be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs to take necessary steps and initiate a fresh investigation by a proper and expert agency to ensure the proper administration of justice," said the High Court bench. HC questions validity of canceling Channel I journalist’s press accreditation On December 1, the bench overturned the verdict of a lower court in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack, acquitting all convicts, including BNP's Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar. The court also declared the charge sheet in the case “illegal.” The bench delivered the judgment after holding a hearing on death references (trial court documents for confirmation of capital punishment) and appeals filed by some of the convicts of the cases. The grenade attack, a shocking incident, occurred on Dhaka's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. At least 24 people, including Awami League’s women affairs secretary and late President Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, were killed. Three hundred others were also injured. Sheikh Hasina survived but suffered hearing impairment. On October 10, 2018, a Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal issued a verdict in one of the cases (pertaining to murder and explosives). The tribunal sentenced 19 people, including Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy education minister Abdus Salam Pintu, to death. 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.

Awami League and its associate organisations on Saturday paid tributes to the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack that left 24 killed and hundreds injured 17 years ago.   Among the dead was Ivy Rahman, the women affairs secretary of Awami League, as hand grenades rained on an anti-terrorism rally addressed by then Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina  at Bangabandhu Avenue. She narrowly escaped the attack. Also read: 17th anniversary of Grenade Attack on AL rally beckons AL leaders and workers gathered at the site of the attack and stood in silence for a few minutes before placing wreaths there in the morning. In observance of the day the ruling party also held a discussion meeting where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke virtually. Also read: Bangladesh observes 17th anniversary of Dhaka grenade attack

The anti-liberation and communal forces are still hatching conspiracies in the country.

 Recalling the barbaric carnage, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday alleged that then PM Khaleda Zia staged the August 21, 2004 grenade attack as carrying out killings is their habit.