The prosecution in the two sensational cases over the monstrous grenade attacks on an Awami League rally on August 21, 2004, hopes that the trial process will conclude within this month, reports BSS.
“The two cases, one filed for murder and another under the explosives substance act, are at their fag end. But the defence is continuing their all-out efforts to waste time and hinder the trial process. If they didn’t do it, the trials would have completed much earlier,” the state news agency quoted Chief Prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman.
The trials in the two cases are being held simultaneously at the Dhaka 1st Speedy Trial Tribunal, which have completed hearings arguments for 43 defendants. The court is scheduled to hear arguments for two more accused.
“The court has been adjourned till Aug 6. The total number of the accused in the case is 52. Of those, three have been executed in other cases and their names have been dropped. Of the 49 accused, 18 are yet to be arrested and being tried in absentia,” Akram Uddin Shyamal, a member of the prosecution team, said.
Of the defendants, 23 including former state minister Lutfuzzaman Babar and deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, are now behind the bars.
Shyamal said the arguments for Pintu will be completed on Aug 6.
“The court has asked counsels for another defendant BNP leader and former state minister Lutfuzzaman Babar to be prepare to present their arguments,” he added.
The vicious grenade 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.