The High Court (HC) is likely to start hearing soon on the death references and appeals of the convicts in the two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) rally in the capital.
Law Minister Anisul Huq has advised Attorney General AM Amin Uddin to take initiative over formation of a bench in the High Court to hear the death references and the appeals.
“Necessary preparations in this regard are almost completed. I have asked the Attorney General (AG) to apply for forming a bench before September 15 over the grenade attack cases,” said the minister.
He was speaking at a training course for journalists on ‘In-Depth Reporting on Legal Affairs’ at a city hotel on Saturday (August 28). Law Reporters’ Forum and Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) jointly arranged the event.
Secretary of Law Reporters’ Forum Muhammad Yeasin moderated the event, while it was addressed, among others, by judge of Appellate Division of Supreme Court Justice Obaidul Hasan Shaheen, judge of High Court Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim, MRDI’s Executive Director Hasibur Rahman Mukur and President of Law Reporters’ Forum Mashudul Haque.
Anisul Huq at the event also spoke about BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad. If Khaleda Zia wants to go abroad for treatment, first she will have to go to jail then apply again, said the minister.
He said, “Khaleda Zia has the opportunity to go abroad subject to the government’s permission under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, she will have to go to jail again. Then she has to submit a fresh application. Because there is no chance to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment as per the earlier application which was applied for her release from the jail. The application has been disposed of.”
Replying to a question of journalists, Anisul Huq said that the Digital Security Act is needed as many people insult and humiliate others on social media. However, the misuse of this law is being stopped.
About August 21 grenade attack cases, he said that overall preparations are at the final stage to start hearing. Initiatives would be taken to start hearing of the cases soon as per rule. Vacation in the High Court is going to begin soon. “So, I have advised the Attorney General to take initiative over the August 21 grenade attack case before September 15,” he added.
Earlier, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin said that lawyers have already been appointed by the state to defend the fugitive convicts in the two cases.
At least 24 people were killed and about 300 were injured in the gruesome attack 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 HC accepted the appeals filed by the convicts in the two cases.
The death reference of convicts and their appeals against the verdict are now ready to be heard at the High Court.
