May 27, 2025 10:39 pm
Full News

August 21 Grenade Attack Case: High Court Acquits Tarique Rahman and All Accused

Deepanwita Martin

The High Court has acquitted all accused, including BNP’s Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and former State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, in the widely debated August 21 grenade attack case. The attack, which targeted an anti-terrorism rally by the Awami League on Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue 20 years ago, killed 24 people and injured hundreds.

The verdict was delivered on Sunday by a High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahman, following appeals filed by the accused and a review of the death references.

Lower Court Sentences Overturned

In 2018, the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 had sentenced 19 people, including Lutfozzaman Babar, to death and handed life imprisonment to 19 others, including Tarique Rahman. Additionally, 11 police and army officers received varying prison terms for their roles in the attack.

However, the High Court overturned the lower court’s decision, granting appeals for all accused and dismissing the death references. The ruling also acquitted those who had not appealed.

Invalid Charges Cited by the Court

In its observations, the High Court declared the supplementary charges based on the confessional statement of Mufti Abdul Hannan, a key witness, to be invalid and illegal.

Attack’s Impact and Historical Context

The August 21, 2004 grenade attack targeted a rally led by Sheikh Hasina, then the Leader of the Opposition and President of the Awami League. At the time, Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the BNP, served as Prime Minister. The attack aimed to assassinate Hasina, leaving 24 dead and hundreds injured, sparking international condemnation.

Initial Ruling and Observations

In the original 2018 verdict, the trial court called the attack a “calculated and heinous attempt” orchestrated with state support to “render the opposition leaderless.” Judge Shahed Noor Uddin remarked that while political disputes between ruling and opposition parties are natural, such efforts to eliminate opposition leadership are unacceptable.

Defense’s Reaction

After the High Court’s acquittal, BNP leader and defense lawyer Kaiser Kamal argued that the supplementary charge sheet, which included Tarique Rahman’s name, was politically motivated under the Awami League government. He welcomed the court’s decision, stating that “justice has been served” and the charges lacked legal basis.

Criticism of the Justice System

The ruling has drawn sharp criticism, with observers questioning the integrity of Bangladesh’s justice system under the current government, which is supported by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Critics argue that the decision reflects the growing influence of political motives over judicial processes, highlighting concerns about systemic corruption and injustice.

Related News
Crypto Industry Moves Closer to Regulation with New Senate Bill
Macron Announces Modi’s Visit to France for AI Action Summit in February
Pakistani Military Conducting Operation to Free Train Hostages in Balochistan
Rubio Shuts Down State Department’s Disinformation Office Amid Controversy
China and US Conduct Quiet Prisoner Exchange in Diplomatic Gesture
Trump and Modi Discuss Security, Trade, and Immigration in Productive Call
Related Posts
How Trump Plans to Avoid a Third Impeachment
Apple Rejected Elon Musk’s Satellite Offer—Now Its Ambitious Plans Are in Jeopardy
Direct Talks Between Syria and Israel
U.S. Warns Pirelli of Potential Sales Restrictions Over Chinese Ownership and Data-Collecting Tire Technology
Ukraine’s Drone Motherships Launch Groundbreaking Long-Range Autonomous Strikes
Israeli Troops Fire as Aid Operation Collapses Amid Gaza Hunger Crisis
More News

Iran Faces Power Shutdowns Amid Fuel Shortages and Harsh Winter

Iran has shut down multiple power plants due to a worsening fuel shortage, exacerbated by a surge in energy demand during a period of extreme cold weather. Despite being a global energy powerhouse with one of the largest natural gas reserves, the country has been forced to ration electricity, close schools, and suspend operations at […]

Cineworld Shuts 6 More Cinemas in the UK, Total Closures Reach 11

Cineworld has announced that six more of its movie theaters in the UK will close, bringing the total number of closures for 2024 to 11. This follows the shutdown of five cinemas in October. The six cinemas that will close are located in Castleford, Leigh, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Poole, and Weymouth. Weymouth will close on December […]

Russia Sets Condition: Ukraine Cannot Join NATO Under Any Circumstances

Russia has reportedly set a condition for the United States, stating that Ukraine cannot, under any circumstances, become a part of the NATO military alliance. A Russian government spokesperson told a state media outlet that two key points had been made clear to the U.S.: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated, “We expect that […]

Modi: Pakistan Must Eliminate “Terrorist Infrastructure” to Be “Saved

New Delhi – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Monday that Pakistan must dismantle its “terrorist infrastructure” if it wishes to be “saved.” These were Modi’s first public comments since last week’s deadly military clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. “If we engage in dialogue with Pakistan, it will be solely about terrorism and […]

Putin Invites Myanmar Junta Chief to Russia’s Independence Day Parade

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Myanmar’s junta chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, to attend Russia’s Independence Day parade. The invitation was extended during Hlaing’s visit to Moscow on March 4, where he met with Putin at the Kremlin, according to TASS news agency. The Victory Day parade will take place on May 9 in […]

Telegram’s Pavel Durov Accuses French Spy Chief of Pressuring Him to Ban Romanian Conservatives

The Voice News:Telegram founder Pavel Durov has alleged that the head of France’s foreign intelligence service, Nicolas Lerner, asked him to block conservative Romanian voices ahead of the country’s presidential election. Durov, currently under judicial supervision in France over allegations related to organized crime on Telegram, made the claim via a post on X, stating […]

APEC 2024: Xi Signals Willingness to Work with Trump While Reflecting on Rocky Ties with Biden

Chinese President Xi Jinping used the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, to emphasize China’s commitment to a stable relationship with the United States, as the country transitions to a new administration under President-elect Donald Trump. During his final meeting with outgoing President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the summit, Xi stressed […]

Russian Forces Capture British Mercenary in Kursk Region, Reports Say

Russian forces have reportedly captured a British mercenary fighting alongside the Ukrainian army in the Kursk region, according to Russia’s RIA state news agency. The region, partially controlled by Kyiv forces, has been a flashpoint for recent military activity. “A mercenary from Great Britain, who called himself James Scott Rhys Anderson, was captured. He is […]

Brazil to Launch $125 Billion Fund for Tropical Forests at COP30

Brazil is set to unveil an ambitious $125 billion fund to protect tropical forests during the COP30 climate summit in November 2025. The initiative, named the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), aims to reward nations for preserving their forests by paying a fee for every hectare maintained. The fund, developed with the World Bank’s assistance, […]

Film Industry Braces for Impact of a Second Trump Presidency

As Donald Trump prepares for a potential second term in office, the international film industry is weighing the possible impacts on everything from global trade to U.S. production incentives. One indie industry professional expressed their concerns saying, “When I saw Trump had won, I just wanted to put my head down and weep… but in […]