The High Court has granted bail to two former inspectors general of police (IGP) who were handed to two years jailterm in the Aug 21 grenade attack case.

The High Court bench of Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty passed the order of Monday (Jan 21) accepting the appeal and bail pleas of former IGPs Shahudul Haque and Ashraful Huda.

Lawyers Arshadur Rauf and Jamilur Rahman moved for the defendants while Assistant Attorney General Md Ali Zinnah represented the state.

Lawyer Jamilur Rahman told the media following the hearing, “The court has accepted their appeals and granted them bail. They are currently at Kashimpur Prison. There are no legal barriers to their release on bail.”

Assistant Attorney General Md Ali Zinnah said that the court has accepted their bail petitions on the argument that the defendants already served 14 months of their two-year sentences.

He, however, added that the state will challenge the decision at the Appellate Division.

Nineteen people, including former minister of state Lutfozzaman Babar was sentenced to death, while Tarique Rahman, son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, was handed life in prison along with 18 others by a Dhaka court on Oct 10.

The attack on Aug 21, 2004, was carried out on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue during the BNP-Jamaat’s regime.

The then-leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina was the leading speaker at the rally.

She was stepping off the truck, which was being used as a dais when the assailants hurled the grenades into the rally.

Among the 24 people killed in the blasts was Bangladesh Mohila Awami League president Ivy Rahman, wife of senior Awami League leader Zillur Rahman, who was later to be elected the country’s president. The attack left Sheikh Hasina with hearing problems.

Late Dhaka mayor Mohammad Hanif was among the over 500 people injured in the explosions.