Aug 21 grenade attack case: Suspects’ families satisfied by verdict

The families of the suspects implicated in the highly publicised case over the Aug 21 grenade attack have expressed their satisfaction with the High Court verdict acquitting all the accused.

They say they have received justice.

The High Court overturned the convictions of all the accused, including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar, in the case over the attack on an Awami League rally at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue two decades ago.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the ruling on Sunday following a review of appeals and death references in the case.

The trial court had originally sentenced 19 people to death, while 19 others, including BNP leader Tarique Rahman, were jailed for life. Additionally, 11 police and military officers were handed varying prison terms.

Following the verdict Tahmina Zaman, the wife of Babar, said that justice had been done.

“We looked to Allah for justice. Allah has granted us that justice. He has been merciful to us. I thank Allah.”

Babar’s son Labib Ibn Zaman said, “Alhamdulillah. We asked for justice, we got justice. I hope, Inshallah, I will get my father back.”

Abdus Salam Pintu, a former MP from the Tangail-2 constituency, was among those accused in the Aug 21 grenade attack and is currently in prison.

In response to the verdict, Pintu’s younger brother, BNP Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, said:

“We got justice. As a family. I thank Allah, the lord of the world. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah.”

Another suspect in the case was Cumilla BNP leader Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad.

In response to the verdict, Kaikobad’s brother, Kazi Junnun Basri, told reporters that his brother was forced to leave the country after the case.

For the past 15 years, the Awami League government has hurt the family physically, mentally and economically, he said. This has now been put to an end through the verdict.

“This verdict is a joyful moment for the nation. Through this verdict, the nation has been freed from stigma. After the case, my brother was forced to leave the country. The fascist government has harassed our family in various ways. My mother became ill with worry due to the absence of her eldest son and due to the case. She died recently. Before her death, she used to say one thing—she wanted to see my brother on Bangladeshi soil before she died. She left with that wish unfulfilled. For this verdict, our family is grateful to the whole of Bangladesh. We give our thanks to those who shed blood for our second independence and gave us our liberation.”