19 yrs on, survivors, victims’ families still wait for ‘final justice’
The August 21, 2004 grenade attack victims are yet to receive justice for the horrifying tragedy that took place at an Awami League rally, in the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue.
The incident claimed 24 lives and left 300 injured.
The then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister of the country, narrowly escaped death in the ghastly incident on this day, 19 years ago.
Trial proceedings of the cases filed over the incident -- which is considered to be one of the most sensational political crimes in the country's history -- have been finished by a lower court nearly five years back.
Now, the cases are waiting on the High Court, as its bench of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman started hearings on the death references (trial court documents for confirmation of death) and appeals (filed by convicted accused) on December 4 of last year.
So far, the bench has held hearings for 80 working days till July 25, court sources said.
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Bashir Ahmed, who is assigned as a state counsel for dealing with the cases, said on August 16 that statements from 224 witnesses of the total 225, have been read out before the HC during the hearings.
The judgement delivered by the trial court will be read out before the HC bench after all testimonies are recorded.
DAG Bashir Ahmed also said that the HC bench is not currently holding hearings as its senior judge is now ill. The hearing will resume after the judge joins office. He also said it cannot be determined how much time will be needed to complete hearings of the death references and appeals of August 21 grenade attack cases. So, there is no time frame on when the judgement will be delivered.
Earlier, on August 10, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin told reporters that 10 to 12 more working days might be needed to complete hearings for the cases.
Court readings from around 30,000 pages of the case paper books before the HC are at the final stage and one more working day might be needed to present the paper books, he said.
After readings from the paper books are concluded, the defence lawyers will place arguments and then the state counsels will make their arguments.
Attorney General Amin Uddin said the lower court has delivered a very beautiful judgement in the cases filed for the gruesome grenade attack, properly citing the reasons and analysing the laws.
"We will pray to the High Court to uphold the lower court verdict in the cases," he added.
Defence lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir, who represents three convicted accused including former BNP state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, said the hearing of the August 21 grenade attack cases may not be concluded before October, as both the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court will go for a long annual vacation on September 1 and will reopen on October 8.
"We will place arguments before the High Court on behalf of our clients after it resumes the hearing," he said, adding that neither the victims nor his clients got justice from the trial court verdict in the case.
A long period of time may be needed for final disposal of the cases, since there are legal options for moving appeals before the Appellate Division, challenging the HC verdict and reviewing petitions before the same court against its judgement, in connection with the cases, said legal experts.
A Dhaka court on October 10, 2018 sentenced 19 people, including Lutfozzaman Babar to death in two cases for the murders, and for explosives which were used in the grenade attacks.
The court also sentenced life imprisonment to 19 others, including BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, while 11 people were handed different prison terms.
Of the convicted accused, 18 are absconding, including Tarique Rahman, who is in London, while 31 are in jail.