21 August grenade attack case: Appeal hearing against HC acquittal continues
On 1 December, a High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman, now an Appellate Division Justice, and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain acquitted all accused in the case
The appeal hearing on the state's petition against the High Court verdict that acquitted former home minister Lutfozzaman Babar and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in the 21 August grenade attack case is ongoing.
Today (19 August) is the third day of the hearing at the Appellate Bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.
Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud represented the state, while senior lawyer SM Shahjahan and lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir appeared for the accused.
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On 1 December, a High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman, now an Appellate Division Justice, and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain acquitted all accused in the case.
The full copy of the verdict was released on 19 December.
Following the verdict, the state filed a leave to appeal, seeking permission to challenge the acquittal. Permission was granted on 1 June, allowing the appeal to proceed.
The grenade attack on 21 August 2004 targeted an Awami League rally led by Sheikh Hasina, killing 24 people.
In 2018, a lower court sentenced 19 people, including Babar and BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintoo, to death.
Nineteen others, including Tarique, were given life sentences.
The High Court began hearing appeals in December 2022 after receiving the trial court's judgment for review.
