Grenade attack: Capital punishment sought for Tarique, others

Staff Correspondent: The prosecution has sought the highest punishment of BNP’s Senior Vice President Tarique Rahman and 48 other accused in the cases filed over August 21 grenade attack on Awami League rally that killed 24 people in 2004.

Syed Rezaur Rahman, the chief prosecutor of the case, sought the highest punishment after concluding the prosecution argument at the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 in Dhaka on Monday afternoon while tribunal Judge Shahed Nur Uddin set Tuesday for starting the defence argument.

On August 21, 2004, the grisly grenade attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally arranged by Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue during the BNP-Jamaat alliance's rule, aiming to assassinate then leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina.

At least 24 leaders and activists, including AL's women affairs secretary and late President Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman, were killed and 300 others injured in the grenade attack.

Although Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped unhurt in the attack, her hearing was affected badly.

Later, two cases -- one under the Explosive Substances Act and another for murder -- were filed in connection with the grenade attack.

Besides Tarique Rahman, the cases have 93 other accused, including BNP leader and former state minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar and another leader Abdus Salam Pintu.


risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 1, 2018/Mamun Khan/AI