Aug 21 cases shifted to speedy trial tribunal

The August 21 grenade attack cases against BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman and 51 others were shifted to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka yesterday for their quick disposal.
The murder case was under trial at the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court while the case filed under the Explosive Substances Act was at the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court.
Earlier in the day, the home ministry sent letters asking the two trial courts to shift the cases to the tribunal for next course of action.
According to the provisions of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, the trial of any case has to be disposed of within 135 workdays.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, however, had earlier opined that if any speedy trial tribunal cannot dispose of any case within the stipulated time, the tribunal can continue trying the case until finalisation of the judgment.
Twenty-four people including Awami League (AL) leader Ivy Rahman were killed and around 200 others injured in the grisly grenade attack on an AL rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.
The then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack.
Earlier on September 4, 2008, the two cases were shifted to the same tribunal for their quick disposal. Later, Judge Masdar Hossain of the tribunal recorded statements of 61 prosecution witnesses.
The tribunal, however, sent back the cases to the Sessions Courts as it could not complete their trial procedures within the stipulated time.
Meantime, the tribunal on August 3, 2009 ordered a fresh probe into the cases following applications submitted by the prosecution for finding out sources of origin of grenades used in the attacks.
Earlier on July 3, Criminal Investigation Department submitted the supplementary charge sheets against 30 including Tarique and 29 others.
Besides, former BNP deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and 20 others were charged in the previous charge sheets.