DHAKA, Nov 13, 2017 (BSS) – The prosecution in its arguments in the August 21, 2004, grenade attack case, today said the grenades that were used in barbaric August 21 attack in 2004, were supplied by Maulana Tajuddin, brother of BNP deputy-minister Abdus Salam Pintu.
Advocate Syed Rezaur Rahman, chief prosecutor in the case, said these while placing closing arguments at Dhaka 1st speedy trial tribunal. Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of the court adjourned the hearing till November 14, as the prosecution failed to wrap up their arguments today.
Today the chief state prosecutor placed arguments for ninth day and referred confessional statements given by different accused in the case.
Earlier the prosecution in their arguments had said a total of five local and foreign militant outfits were involved in the barbaric attack, killing 24 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Awami League.
“Harkat-ul Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B), Kashmir-based separatist organization Hizb-ul Mujahideen, Tehrik Jihad-e Islam, Lashkar-e Tyaba and Myanmar-based Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) were involved in the monstrous attack,” the chief prosecutor said on November 8.
“Apart from these groups, Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and then BNP- Jamaat alliance government orchestrated the attack. The then government used Ministry of Home Affairs, DGFI, NSI and Bangladesh Police in executing the conspiracy,” he added.
A total of 24 AL leaders and workers including the then Mohila Awami League President and wife of late President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman, were killed and 500 others were injured.
Earlier the senior jurist in his arguments had said a total of 12 accused have given confessional statement under section 164. Of those accused, HuJI leader Mufti Abdul Hannan had given two confessional statements.
A total of 225 prosecution witnesses testified in the case, while 20 witnesses were produced by the defence.
The attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally of Awami League, aimed at killing the front ranking leaders including its President and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to eliminate the party leaderships.