Former BNP ministers Lutfozzaman Babar and Abdus Salam Pintu are among the 19 people awarded the death penalty for their involvements in the attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka 14 years ago.
The Aug 21, 2004, incident, one of biggest terror attacks in the history of Bangladesh, was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally at Bangabandhu Avenue during the BNP-Jamaat’s regime.
BNP acting chief Tarique Rahman, son of the then-prime minister Khaleda Zia, has been sentenced to life in prison along with 18 others.
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The then-leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina was the leading speaker at the rally. Investigations later revealed that she was the prime target.
She was stepping off the truck, which was being used as a dais when the assailants hurled the grenades into the rally. Investigators said that 13 grenades were detonated on the day.
On Wednesday (Oct 10), Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 judge Shahed Nuruddin delivered the verdict in the two cases over the assault that left 24 people dead and hundreds injured.
A total of 52 people were charged, but names of three people were dropped later as they have been executed in other cases.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Md Mojaheed, who served as a minister in 2001-06, was executed in 2015 for 1971 war crimes.
Top leader of militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islam, Bangladesh (HuJI,B) Mufti Adbul Hannan and his associate Sharif Shahed Bipul were hanged for the 2004 Sylhet attack on the then-UK envoy.
The court convened at 11:40am, some 20 minutes after the 31 accused were brought in the courtroom. Eighteen people have been tried in the cases as fugitives.
The court found all 49 of the accused guilty— 19 were sentenced to death, as many to life in prison and the remaining 11 were handed different prison terms.
The judge set the day of the verdict in the sensational cases after he wrapped up hearing arguments of both sides on Sept 18.
The investigation into the attack during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government was diverted to other directions.
The first three investigation officers are accused of attempts to divert the probe by making one Joj Mia from a village in Noakhali’s Senbagh as the ‘scapegoat’ in the investigation. Mia later went on to be a witness of the case.
The military-backed caretaker government of 2007-8 ordered a fresh investigation.
On Jun 9, 2008, police submitted a charge sheet against HuJI,B leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and 21 others.
The cases were sent to the Speedy Trial Tribunal later that year.
After the Awami League formed the government in 2009, a supplementary charge sheet naming 30 people were submitted in the court in July 2011.
It included BNP Senior Vice-Chairman and Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, her political secretary Harris Chowdhury, former minister and Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, former state minister for home Babar, former deputy minister Pintu, and former BNP MP Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad.
SENTENCES | |||
DEATH | LIFE IN PRISON | JAIL TERMS | |
Ex-state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar | BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman (FUGITIVE) | Ex-IGP Md Ashraful Huda | 2 years rigorous imprisonment |
Ex-deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu | Ex-political secy to Khaleda Zia Haris Chowdhury (FUGITIVE)
| Ex-IGP Shahudul Haque | |
Ex-DGFI chief Maj Gen Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury | HuJi operative Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel | Khaleda Zia’ nephew Saiful Islam Duke | |
Ex-NSI chief Brig Gen Abdur Rahim | HuJi operative Arif Hasan alias Sumon alias Abdur Razzak | Lt Col Saiful Islam Joarder (FUGITIVE) | |
HuJi leader Mawlana Md Tajuddin (FUGITIVE) | HuJi operative Hafez Mawlana Yahia | Ex-DGFI official Maj Gen ATM Amin (FUGITIVE) | |
Pakistani national and Kashmir-based Hizbul Mujahideen operative Md Abdul Mazed Butt | HuJi operative Mawlana Abdur Rouf alias Peer Saheb | Ex-DIG Khan Sayeed Hasan (FUGITIVE) | |
HuJI leader Mawlana Sheikh Abdus Salam | HuJi operative Mawlana Sabbir Ahmed alias Abdul Hannan Sabbir | Ex-police superintendent Obaidur Rahman Khan (FUGITIVE) | |
HuJi leader Mohibullah alias Mofijur Rahman alias Ovee | Militant Mohibul Muttakin (FUGITIVE) | Ex-IGP Khoda Bokhsh Chowdhury | 3 years rigorous imprisonment |
Hanif Enterprise Owner, Md Hanif (FUGITIVE) | Militant Anisul Mursalin (FUGITIVE) | Ex-CID officer Ruhul Amin | |
HuJi operative Mawlana Abu Sayeed alias Dr Jafar | HuJi operative Md Khalil (FUGITIVE) | Ex-CID officer Abdur Rashid | |
HuJi operative Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul | HuJi operative Jahangir Alam Badar (FUGITIVE) | Ex-CID official Munshi Atikur Rahman | |
HuJi operative Md Jahangir Alam | HuJi operative Md Iqbal (FUGITIVE) |
| |
HuJi operative Hafez Mawlana Abu Taher | HuJi operative Abu Bakkar alias Hafez Selim Hawlader | ||
HuJi operative Hossain Ahammed Tamim | HuJi operative Mawlana Delwar Hossain Jobaer alias Liton (FUGITIVE) | ||
Moin Uddin Sheikh alias Mufti Moin alias Khaja alias Abu Jandal alias Masum Billah | Formet BNP MP Qazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad (FUGITIVE) | ||
Rafikul Islam alias Sabuj | HuJI leader Mufti Shafikur Rahman (FUGITIVE) | ||
Md Uzzal alias Ratan | HuJI leader Mufti Abdul Hai (FUGITIVE) | ||
Abdul Malek alias Golam Mohammad | Huji Operative Ratul Ahammed Babu (FUGITIVE) | ||
HuJi Operative Mawlana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid. | Former Dhaka City Corporation Commissioner Ariful Islam alias Arif | ||
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