DHAKA, Aug 28, 2018 (BSS) – The prosecution in August 21 grenade attack case today said in spite of being in charge of Ministry of Home Affairs, then junior minister of the ministry Lutfuzzaman Babar didn’t even bother to visit the place of occurrence after the monstrous attack.
“Babar’s office was very close to the place of occurrence. But he didn’t visit the place for once,” chief prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman told newsmen.
Rahman said this as the court of Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of Dhaka 1st Speedy Trial Tribunal heard the arguments of two cases, one for murder and another under explosives substance act, filed over the incident for 111 days.
Defence counsel advocate Nazrul Islam argued for his client and very last accused Lutfuzzaman Babar for the seventh days. Today, the defence counsel argued on the submission of investigation officer and prosecution witness number 225 Abdul Kahhar Akand. Judge Shahed Nur Uddin adjourned the hearing of the cases till tomorrow as the defence failed to wrap up their arguments.
Earlier, the prosecution in their closing arguments pleaded for maximum punishment for the accused in the trial.
“For the sake of justice and to meet the expectation of the justice seekers, we are pleading for maximum punishment for the accused,” Chief Prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman said.
“The main aim of that barbaric attack was to eliminate the top leadership of Awami League including its president Sheikh Hasina and create a vacuum among the force in support of war of liberation and independence,” Rahman added.
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.
The chief prosecutor said one of the goals of the attackers was unimpeded activities of militant outfits like HuJI, Hijb-ul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiaba, Tehrik-e Jihad-e Islam and Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) in the country.
“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.
According to the prosecution, the conspiracy behind the attack was hatched at Hawa Bhaban, Tarique’s so called political office in capital’s Banani.
“Meetings were held at that office in presence of Tarique and then administration extended their helping hands to the attackers following the meetings,” Syed Rezaur Rahman said.
The prosecution on December 27, 2017, concluded its arguments on facts.
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 in the barbaric attack on August 21, 2004.