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Aug 21 grenade attack cases

AG to file petition over formation of HC bench


Published : 30 Aug 2021 09:43 PM

Attorney General (AG) AM Amin Uddin has said that he would file a petition with Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain to determine a bench of the High Court (HC) to start hearing the death references and appeals of the convicts in the two grenade attack cases. 

He said this while talking to journalists at his office in the capital on Monday (August 30). 

He said that lawyers have already been appointed by the state to defend the fugitive convicts in the two cases. The case is now pending with the High Court due to Covid-19 situation. 

Asked whether an appeal would be filed seeking capital punishment of Tarique Rahman, the Attorney General said, “The case is still pending. The review of the all documents has not been completed. We will take decision about Tarique Rahman after reviewing the documents of the cases.”

Earlier on Saturday, Law Minister Anisul Huq said that he has advised the Attorney General to take initiative over formation of a bench in the High Court to hear the death references and the appeals. Overall preparations are at the final stage to start hearing. Initiatives would be taken to start hearing of the cases soon as per rule, he added. 

A total of 24 people were killed and about 300 were injured in the gruesome attack on a Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on August 21 in 2004. Awami League chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the-then opposition leader in Parliament, narrowly escaped the attack.

Two separate cases were filed in this connection on August 22 in 2004. Police submitted the charge sheet on June 9 in 2008. A Dhaka court framed charges on September 29 in 2008. 

On October 10 in 2018, the Dhaka court sentenced 19 people to death including former state minister for Home Lutfuzzaman Babar and awarded life imprisonment to another 19 including BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The court also sentenced 11 others to different terms of jail.

On November 27 in 2018, the lower court sent the case documents, including the judgement, to the High Court for further proceedings. On January 13 in 2019, the higher court accepted the appeals filed by the convicts in the two cases.