The proceedings in a case lodged over brutal grenade attack at the rally of then opposition leader, Awami League president and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the capital’s Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004, are nearing its end, said its chief prosecutor.
“We are expecting the case to be wrapped up soon as the court has already completed examining all 225 prosecution witnesses in the case. Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 has also examined 13 witness’ from the defence till date,” Syed Rezaur Rahman, chief prosecutor in the sensational case, told newsmen.
The senior lawyer also added that the defence is expected to produce another eight witnesses before the court can start hearing the arguments in the case.
The attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally by Awami League, aimed at killing its front-ranking leaders including its President Sheikh Hasina to eliminate the party leadership.
A total of 24 Awami League leaders and workers including the then Mohila (Women) Awami League President and wife of late President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman, were killed and 500 others were injured.
Sheikh Hasina and the front ranking leaders escaped the carnage narrowly.
According to the case documents, then sub-inspector Faruk Hossain of Motijheel Police Station filed the case on August 22, 2004.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) senior Additional Superintendent of Police Fazlul Kabir on June 11, 2008, filed the charge-sheet in the case against 22 people including chief of Bangladesh chapter of militant outfit Harkat-ul Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) Mufti Abdul Hannan.
Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 on August 3, 2009, ordered further investigation, accepting a plea by the prosecution.
New investigation officer and superintendent of police of CID Abdul Kahar Akand on July 3, 2011, filed two separate charge-sheets one for murder and another under explosive substances act against total 52, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman.
“Of the total 52 accused, 18 are yet to be arrested, eight are on bail and the rest are behind the bars.
The prime accused former Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohamed Mujahid has been hanged in a crimes against humanity case, while Mufti Hannan and his associate Shahidul Alam Bipul have also been executed for the 2004 grenade attack at Shah Jalal shrine in Sylhet and their names have been dropped from the case,” lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal, special public prosecutor, said.
Of the high-profile accused in the case, former state minister for home affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar and former deputy minister for information Abdus Salam Pintu are in jail.
Former top officials of police Ashraful Huda, Shahudul Haque, Khoda Boksh Chowdhury, Ruhul Amin, Atikur Rahman and Abdur Rashid are on bail in the case.
According to intelligence sources, of the fugitives, Tarique Rahman is in London, Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad in the Middle East, Mohamed Hanif of Hanif Enterprise is in Kolkata, Major General (retd) ATM Amin in the USA, Lt Colonel (retd) Saiful Islam Joardar in Canada, Ratul Babu in India, Anisul Morsalin and Mohibul Mottakin are in Indian jail and Moulana Tazuddin is in South Africa.
Awami League (AL) leaders have stepped up a campaign against opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ahead of the general election due in 2019.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said that a group is drawing up a plan abroad in a bid to grab power owing to political setbacks.
“Who is going where from London and Bangkok and what they are talking about? I know everything. Just be careful,” Quader warned pointing the finger at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, now in London for treatment.
After coming out of a hole, BNP has started propaganda centring on the Supreme Court verdict that declared the 16th Amendment to the Constitution illegal, Quader said while addressing the programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh marking the National Mourning Day.
Quader said BNP faces defeat in elections and thus it has chosen the path of foreign conspiracy. He also called upon the party’s youth front leaders and activists to be united and said BNP along with Jamaat-e-Islami activists is planning atrocities ahead of the 11th national election.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim yesterday described BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia as the “mastermind” of the plots.
Nasim was addressing a human chain organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote at the National Press Club in Dhaka city marking the National Mourning Day.
Nasim alleged that after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabadhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975, the governments of Khandaker Mostaque Ahmed, Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and HM Ershad failed to haul in the killers.
“Rather, they rewarded the killers but Sheikh Hasina brought them to justice.” A vested quarter also tried to kill Sheikh Hasina but could not succeed, he said.
The minister said people will decide on electing Sheikh Hasina again to continue development.
The president and prime minister praying after laying wreaths at a memorial to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi in Dhaka on Tuesday.
