Lawyer seeks acquittal for Huji leader Arif

The defence counsel for Huji leader Arif Hassan Sumon yesterday sought acquittal for his client from all charges in the cases filed over August 21 grenade attack.

Advocate Mizanur Rahman argued for over two hours and cited contradictions between the confessional statements given by Arif and those by four other, including Mufti Hannan.

Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka heard the arguments and later adjourned the hearing till today. Ehsan will again place his closing arguments for his client today.

Yesterday the lawyer said his client was falsely implicated in the cases and was forced to give a confessional statement before the magistrate and hence should not be convicted.

Meanwhile, advocate Ehsanul Karim for another Huji leader Hossain Ahmed Tamim yesterday started placing closing arguments in the cases. Earlier, defence lawyers for 20 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 the AL 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 Rahman, 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.