August 21 Grenade Attack: Next appeal hearing on Aug 13

The Appellate Division on Thursday concluded the first hearing on the appeal against the acquittal of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former State Minister Lutfozzaman Babar in the August 21 grenade attack case. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 13.

The six-member Appellate Bench, headed by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, heard the prosecution’s arguments today. During the proceedings, the Chief Justice questioned the source of the grenades and referred to Interpol’s report, seeking details on who brought the explosives into the country.

On December 1 last year, the High Court acquitted all the accused, including Tarique and Babar, ruling that a conviction cannot be based solely on a single confessional statement.

The grenade attack on August 21, 2004, targeted a rally of then-opposition leader Sheikh Hasina on Bangabandhu Avenue, killing 24 Awami League activists. Two cases were filed following the attack—one under the Explosives Act and another for murder.

In 2018, the trial court sentenced 19 people, including Babar and former Deputy Education Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, to death. Tarique Rahman and 19 others were handed life sentences, while 11 more received varied prison terms and fines.