In a significant development, the High Court has urged that the 21 August 2004 grenade attack case be referred to the Home Ministry for a thorough investigation by a qualified agency. This decision aims to ensure justice for the victims of a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives, including that of then Awami League leader Ivy Rahman.
The bench, consisting of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain, made these remarks while releasing the full text of their verdict on Thursday. They emphasized the need for an independent and comprehensive inquiry, as justice has remained elusive in this case.
“This is a heinous, tragic incident in our country’s history,” the judges stated. “The killings must be properly investigated to ensure justice, which has been completely absent until today.”
On December 1, the High Court had overturned a lower court’s verdict in two cases related to the grenade attack, acquitting all convicted individuals, including BNP’s Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar. The bench deemed the charge sheet in the case as “illegal.”
The grenade attack, which occurred on Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue, resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people and injuries to around 300 others. While Sheikh Hasina survived the attack, she suffered hearing impairment.
In a previous ruling on October 10, 2018, a Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced 19 individuals, including Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy education minister Abdus Salam Pintu, to death in connection with the attack. Additionally, 19 others, including Tarique Rahman, received life sentences, while 11 were given varying terms of imprisonment and fines.
The High Court’s call for a fresh investigation marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing quest for justice in this high-profile case.
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