21 Aug grenade attack: Verdict on appeal against acquittal of Tarique, Babar, others on 4 Sept
On 19 March, the state filed an appeal against the HC verdict in the 21 August grenade attack case
The Appellate Division has set September 4 to deliver the final verdict on a petition filed challenging a High Court (HC) order that acquitted all convicts, including BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, in the 21 August grenade attack case.
A six-member bench, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, today (21 August) fixed the date upon completion of the appeal hearing.
On 1 December last year, the HC overturned the verdict of a lower court in two cases filed over the 21 August grenade attack, acquitting all convicts, including BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
On 19 March, the state filed an appeal against the HC verdict in the 21 August grenade attack case.
On 31 July, the Appellate Division set 13 August to hear the petition filed challenging the HC order.
For the past few days, the court heard the petition and finally set 4 September to deliver the verdict.
The grenade attack occurred on Dhaka's Bangabandhu Avenue on 21 August 2004. The attack, targeting an Awami League rally led by Sheikh Hasina, had killed 24 people and injured dozens.
Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack but her hearing was affected.
On 10 October 2018, a speedy trial tribunal in Dhaka issued a verdict in one of the cases (pertaining to murder and explosives).
The tribunal sentenced 19 accused, including former state minister for home affairs 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.
The judgment was subsequently transferred to the HC in 2018, registered as a death reference case.
