Defence starts placing arguments
The defence lawyer for Lieutenant Commander (Rtd) Saiful Islam Duke, nephew of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, yesterday started placing arguments in cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on Awami League in 2004.
Advocate Abdur Rezak Khan said the charges against Duke, now on bail, could not be proved.
“The prosecution has failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt,” the lawyer said.
The lawyer said his client's name was not included in the first charge sheet and charges brought against him of helping Moulana Tajuddin to flee the country were false, fabricated and concocted.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka set today for the next hearing of the cases.
Earlier, lawyers for 40 other accused including BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, completed their arguments and sought acquittal of the accused.
Twenty-four leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies were killed, and over 300 others suffered injuries in August 21 attack. Ivy Rahman, the then Mohila AL president and also wife of late president Zillur Rahman, was among the deceased.
Of the 49 accused, eight including three former inspector generals of police, are now on bail, while 18, including Tarique Rahman, are absconding.
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