The two sensational cases, one filed for murder and another under the explosives substance act, lodged over the 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally, are nearing their end despite the defense’s alleged repeated attempts for wasting time.
“They (defence) are continuing their all-out efforts to waste time and hinder the trial process. The defence is enjoying all the legal benefits in the cases. In spite of all these, they are trying to hinder the justice. In the arguments, they are bringing out things which are not relevant at all,” chief prosecutor and Syed Rezaur Rahman told BSS.
The trials are being held at Dhaka’s 1st Speedy Trial Tribunal, where arguments for 43 defendants have been completed so far. The court is scheduled to hear arguments for two more defendants.
“The court has been adjourned until July 30. The total number of the defendants in the case is 52. Of those, three have been executed in other cases and their names have been dropped. Of the 49 defendants, 18 are being tried as fugitives to justice,” said counsel Akram Uddin Shyamal, a member of the prosecution.
Of the defendants, 23 including former BNP state minister Lutfuzzaman Babar and deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu are now behind the bars.
The prosecutor said the court has ordered counsels for Pintu to argue for his client on July 30 and 31, while it has set August 1 to hear Pintu in person.
“The court has asked counsels for another defendant Lutfuzzaman Babar to prepare for presenting their arguments,” Shyamal added.
Another prosecutor Farhana Reza echoed her senior Rezaur Rahman’s allegation, saying the defence is trying to waste time deliberately from the very beginning of the trial.
While talking about the legal benefits extended towards the accused, the prosecutor said the court has appointed state defence to defend all fugitives except four.
“All the fugitives, who have been charged for maximum punishment, have got state defence to defend their cases. Only fugitives ATM Amin, Saiful Islam Joarder, Obaidur Rahman Khan and Khan Sayeed Hasan haven’t got any counsels to defend their cases,” she added.
The vicious attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally of Awami League, aimed at killing the front ranking leaders including its President and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to eliminate the party leaderships.
A total of 24 AL leaders and workers including the then Mohila Awami League President and wife of late President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman, were killed and 500 others were injured.
A total of 225 prosecution witnesses testified in the case, while 20 witnesses were produced by the defence.