Appeal hearing in Aug 21 grenade attack case concludes, verdict pending

The appeal and death reference hearing for the August 21, 2004, grenade attack on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue has concluded. The court has reserved the verdict (CAV) for announcement at a later date.

A High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain concluded the hearing on Thursday (November 21). The bench kept the death references (trial court documents for confirming death sentences) and appeals filed by the convicted accused pending, with the judgment to be delivered on any day.

Deputy Attorney General Md. Jasim Sarkar represented the state, while lawyers SM Shahjahan and Shishir Monir appeared for the defendants. The hearing started on October 31 and ended on Thursday (November 21).

On October 10, 2018, the trial court sentenced 19 individuals, including former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, to death. Another 19, including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, were given life imprisonment, while 11 others received varying jail terms.

Subsequently, on November 27, 2018, the trial court's verdict and related documents were forwarded to the High Court's death reference section for confirmation. At the same time, imprisoned defendants submitted appeals against their convictions.

The individuals sentenced to death include Lutfozzaman Babar, Abdus Salam Pintu, his brother Maulana Tajuddin, former HuJI leader Sheikh Abdur Salam (who passed away in prison), Kashmiri militant Abdul Majed Bhatt, Abdul Malek alias Golam Mostafa, Maulana Shaukat Osman, Mohibullah alias Mofizur Rahman, Maulana Abu Sayeed alias Dr. Zafar, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Md. Jahangir Alam, Hafiz Maulana Abu Taher, Hossain Ahmed Tamim, Moinuddin Sheikh alias Mufti Moin, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Md. Uzzal, former NSI Director General Major General (Retd.) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury, Brigadier General (Retd.) Abdur Rahim (who also died in prison), and BNP leader and transport business owner Mohammad Hanif.

Life sentences were handed down to Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia's former political advisor Haris Chowdhury, BNP leader Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, HuJI member Hafiz Maulana Yahya, Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel, Maulana Abdur Rauf (who passed away in prison), Maulana Sabbir Ahmed, Arif Hasan alias Suman, Abu Bakar alias Hafiz Selim Mauladar, Md. Ariful Islam, Mohibul Muttaqin alias Muttaqin, Anisul Murshaleen alias Murshaleen, Md. Khalil alias Khalilur Rahman, Jahangir Alam Badar, Md. Iqbal alias Iqbal Hossain, Liton alias Maulana Liton, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hai, and Ratul Ahmed alias Ratul Babu.

When the verdict was delivered, 31 defendants were in custody, while 18 others, including Tarique Rahman, were still fugitives.