21 Years of the August 21 Grenade Attack: Appeal Hearing Ongoing at the Supreme Court

Today, August 21, marks a tragic day in the political history of Bangladesh. On this day in 2004, a grenade attack was carried out at an Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue. The attack targeted the then-opposition leader Sheikh Hasina. In the incident, 24 central leaders of the Awami League, including Ivy Rahman, were killed, and hundreds of leaders and activists were injured.

Although a case was filed after the incident, the investigation and trial process faced several controversies. In 2007, during the caretaker government, the CID reopened the investigation and filed charges against 22 accused. Later, after the Awami League came to power in 2009, a supplementary charge sheet was submitted against an additional 30 individuals, including BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

On October 10, 2018, Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 delivered its verdict. Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, former Deputy Minister of Education Abdus Salam Pintu, and 19 others were sentenced to death, while Tarique Rahman and 19 others received life imprisonment. Additionally, 11 others were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment.

However, last year, the High Court overturned the trial court’s verdict and acquitted all the accused. In its full judgment, the court observed that the investigation into the killings had not been proper or independent. It recommended a fresh, impartial investigation and suggested that the matter be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The state has appealed the High Court verdict. The appeal hearings began on July 17 this year before a six-member bench of the Appellate Division. Following this, hearings were held on July 31, August 19, and yesterday. Today, Thursday, the hearing is also scheduled to continue. Deputy Attorney General Abdulya Al Mahmud is representing the state, while senior lawyer S.M. Shahjahan and several others are representing the accused.