August 21 case verdict decided: BNP

The opposition BNP alleged yesterday that the prime minister is influencing the judiciary by making comments on the August 21 grenade attack case before it goes into trial.
"The recent remark of the premier proves that the verdict of the case has been decided. The remarks will influence the judiciary when the case will be under trial", said BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, briefing journalists at the party's central office at Nayapaltan in the city.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recently said she is sure that the BNP-led four-party coalition was behind the heinous grenade attack that killed 24 people on August 21, 2004.
Alamgir said the prime minister is delivering speeches on a sub judice matter, and that is why they are apprehending that the verdict is already decided.
“The government wants to finish the trial into the case hurriedly, aiming to keep Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman away from the next parliamentary election".
He alleged that the BNP government had brought FBI and Scotland Yard for fair investigation into the case, but Awami League did not cooperate with them.
BNP will cooperate with the government on the case, but the name of Tarique Rahman must be withdrawn as his name was implicated in the charge sheet intentionally, he said.
The BNP leader said, "Three police officials are in jail, as they did not agree to implicate the name of Tarique Rahman with the incident. Even the charge sheet has been submitted at least 14 times, and the prime accused Mufti Hannan was taken on remand for 200 days".
Alamgir also asked how has media broadcast the confessional statement of Mufti Hannan when it is a confidential matter?
BNP vice-chairmen Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Abdullah Al Noman, among others, were present at yesterday's press briefing.