Aug 21 Attack: Falsely implicated

Defence counsel of  Huji leader Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul yesterday concluded arguments and sought his client's acquittal from all charges in the cases filed over August 21 grenade attack.

Advocate Mohammad Moinuddin Miah argued for over two hours and cited contradictions between the confessional statements given by Bulbul and those by three other Huji leaders, including Mufti Abdul Hannan.

The lawyer said his client was falsely implicated in the cases.

Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka heard the arguments and later adjourned the hearing till today.

Yesterday, Huji leader Jahangir Alam Badar himself started closing arguments in the cases. But he could not conclude. He will restart today.

Earlier, defence lawyers for 22 others including BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, former BNP lawmaker Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad and Hanif Paribahan owner Mohammad Hanif concluded their closing arguments in the cases.

Twenty-four leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies were killed and over 300 others suffered splinter injuries in the August 21 attack. Ivy Rahman, the then Mohila AL president and also the wife of late president Zillur Rahman, was among the deceased.

Of the 49 accused, eight, including three former inspectors general of police, are now on bail, while 18, including Tarique, are absconding.

Twenty-three accused, including former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar and ex-deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu who are now behind bars, were produced before the court yesterday.