Prosecution concludes arguments on facts

The prosecution yesterday completed their closing arguments on facts in the cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack in 2004 that left 24 Awami League leaders and activists killed and scores injured.

Syed Rezaur Rahman, chief prosecutor of the cases, placed arguments for more than two hours, citing testimonies of defence witnesses.

Pointing out discrepancies in their testimonies, Rezaur argued that the testimonies were not credible.

Later, Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 fixed January 1 for next proceeding of the case when the prosecution will place their arguments on legal points.

Rezaur hoped that the prosecution would be able to complete their whole argument on the next date and then defence counsels will start placing theirs.

While reading out the testimonies of defence witness Moulana Abdus Salam, an accused of the case, Rezaur said Salam gave a confessional statement about his involvement in the crimes. But later, while giving deposition, he said his statement was taken by force, which is not true.

The chief prosecutor said Salam is a founding member of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh (Huji) and he took training in charging grenades. Salam also participated in all meetings where planning of the attack was done.

Later, Rezaur told reporters that he, citing testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, told the tribunal about several meeting places including Hawa Bhaban and Dhanmondi residence of former BNP minister Abdus Salam Pintu, where the plan was orchestrated.

During arguments, Rezaur said Salam, during cross-examination, said he never heard the name of Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan, also an accused in the case, which is not believable.

While talking about the testimony of 18th defence witness Abdul Majed Bhat, another accused, Rezaur said he is a Pakistani citizen and member of Kashmir-based militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

He was sent to Bangladesh in 2000 to help several local militant organisations including Huji and he had a good link with the then BNP-led coalition government.

He also gave a confessional statement but later retracted, said Rezaur, adding that testimonies of other witnesses and his statement show arms and money for militant activities in Bangladesh came from Pakistan.

At this point, Rezaur mentioned the name of ISI -- Pakistan's intelligence agency -- but did not give details.

Later, Rezaur told reporters that three international militant organisations including Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba worked with local militant organisations and took help from the then administration to carry out the attack.

Advocate Akram Uddin Shyamol, who assisted Rezaur Rahman in the court, said they will cite verdicts from home and abroad including Bangabandhu and Rajib Gandhi murder cases.

BACKGROUND

Twenty-four leaders and activists of AL and its associate bodies were killed and over 300 others suffered splinter injuries in the August 21 attack. Sheikh Hasina, then opposition leader, narrowly escaped the attack with ear injuries.

A case was filed with Motijheel Police Station the following day. But the CID submitted two charge sheets, one for killing and injuring people and the other for supplying and using grenades. The second charge sheet was filed under the Explosive Substances Act.

During the tenure of the last caretaker government, charge sheets were filed against 22 people -- Abdus Salam Pintu and 21 Huji men, including Mufti Hannan. A further probe was launched in 2009.

A supplementary charge sheet was submitted against 30 accused, including Tarique Rahman, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and former Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, in July 2011.

In March 2012, the tribunal indicted 52 accused, including Tarique Rahman, on murder and criminal conspiracy charges while 38 accused were indicted in the case filed under the Explosive Substances Act. Now trial of both cases is being conducted concurrently.

The 11 other accused in the murder case were not implicated in the explosives case. They include three former IGPs, three ex-CID officials, two former senior police officials, Khaleda's nephew Duke, and two former army officers ATM Amin and Saiful Islam Joarder.

Jamaat leader Mojaheed has already been executed for crimes committed during the Liberation War while Mufti Hannan and another Huji man were executed in the case filed over the grenade attack on former British high commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Chowdhury in Sylhet. Their names were dropped from the cases.

Of the 49, eight accused, including three former IGPs, are now on bail while 18 including Tarique are absconding. Twenty-three, including Babar and Pintu, are now behind bars.