Five local, foreign militant outfits involved in Aug 21 attacks

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DHAKA, Nov 8, 2017 (BSS) – The prosecution in its arguments in the August 21, 2004, grenade attack case, today said a total of five local and foreign militant outfits were involved in the barbaric attack that killed 24 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Awami League.

Advocate Syed Rezaur Rahman, chief prosecutor in the case, said these while placing closing arguments at Dhaka 1st speedy trial tribunal for the eighth day.

Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of the court adjourned the hearing till November 13 as the prosecution failed to wrap up its arguments today.

“Harkat-ul Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B), Kashmir-based separatist organisations, Hizb-ul Mujahideen, Tehrik Jihad-e Islam, Lashkar-e Tyaba, and Myanmar-based Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) were involved in the monstrous attack,” the chief prosecutor said.

“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 injured in the attack.

Earlier, the senior jurist in his arguments had said a total of 12 accused have given confessional statement under section 164. Of the 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.