DHAKA, Dec 20, 2017 (BSS) – Prosecution in their closing arguments in August 21, 2004, grenade attack case today said no top officials of the then government and administration visited the spot of occurrence after the monstrous attack.
“No top officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as Police Headquarters visited the place of occurrence after that pre-planned attack,” chief prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman told the court in his closing arguments for the 23rd day.
The prosecution today placed arguments on the depositions of Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, former minister Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and police official Md Nawsher Ali.
Chief prosecutor Rahman quoted Amu while narrating how Awami League President Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack, when she suddenly stood to give photographers a chance to take good snaps while coming down from the truck on which she addressed the rally.
“I laid down on the makeshift stage and then saw that party leaders including Mohammad Hanif formed human shield to save our party president,” the chief prosecutor said quoting Amu.
Dr Alamgir in his deposition said in spite of very near to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police Headquarters, no top officials visited the spot after the bloody attack took place.
“They turned place valley of death as part of a special plan,” Rahman said, quoting the former home minister.
Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of Dhaka 1st speedy trial tribunal adjourned the hearing till December 26.
The prosecution in their earlier 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 organisation 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.
“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.