August 21 Grenade Attack: Acquittal of Tarique Rahman, Babar upheld

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld the High Court’s verdict acquitting BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar in the August 21 grenade attack case.

Tarique Rahman had previously been sentenced to life imprisonment, while Babar was handed the death penalty in the case. However, the High Court later acquitted them along with several other accused—a decision that was challenged before the apex court.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the judgment at 10:05 am on Thursday.

Advocates S.M. Shahjahan and Mohammad Shishir Monir represented Tarique Rahman and Lutfozzaman Babar during the hearing. Senior BNP-affiliated lawyers including Advocate Zainul Abedin, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol, Advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam Sojol, Advocate Aminul Islam, Advocate Maksud Ullah, Advocate Mohammad Siddiq Ullah Mia, Advocate Zakir Hossain, Advocate Anisur Rahman Rayan Bishwas, Advocate Shamsul Islam Mukul, and Azmal Hossain Khokon were also present in court.

On behalf of the state, Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman, Additional Attorneys General Anik R. Haque and Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan, and Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Masud represented the prosecution.

The August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka resulted in the deaths of 24 people and injured over 300, including the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina.