Aug 21 grenade attack plot hatched at Hawa Bhaban: PW

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DHAKA, Nov 28, 2017 (BSS) – Chief prosecutor advocate Syed Rezaur Rahman in the August 21 grenade attack case today quoted a prosecution witness as saying the conspiracy behind the 2004 attack was hatched at Tarique Rahman’s alleged political office Hawa Bhaban and his party deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu’s official residence.

Abu Hena Md Eusuf, who testified as the 62nd prosecution witness, was an inspector in CID and was involved in probing the Ramna Batamul blast case.

Advocate Syed Rezaur Rahman said in today’s arguments that Eusuf had taken Harkat-ul Jihad-al Islami (HuJI) leader Mufti Abdul Hannan into custody in his case and interrogated him.

“The HuJI boss at that time confessed to his involvement in different attacks carried out throughout the country. Eusuf informed his bosses including Khoda Boksh Chowdhury, Munshi Atikur Rahman and Ruhul Amin in the agency, but they did not pay any heed to that. They instead asked Eusuf to refrain himself from getting involved in August 21 case,” Rahman said.

The chief prosecutor today argued for the 15th day and referred to different testimonies and documents showing direct involvement of 10 accused persons including Tarique Rahman, Lutfuzzaman Babar, Abdus Salam Pintu, Mufti Hannan and Mawlana Tajuddin in the attack.

Advocate Rahman said Eusuf in his testimony narrated how Mufti Hannan was assured of all sorts of cooperation by Tarique Rahman and then state minister for home affairs Babar provided assistance subsequently.

Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of Dhaka 1st speedy trial tribunal adjourned the hearing till December 5, as the prosecution failed to wrap up their arguments.

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.

“Apart from these groups, Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and the 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 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.