Probashbangla24 online Desk : The verdicts of the August 21 grenade attack cases, delivered after 14 years and 49 days after the deadly carnage, has changed the political landscape ahead of the national polls as many BNP leaders have been convicted for their direct or indirect involvement in the attacks.
BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, former home minister Lutfozzaman Babar and many other former parliament members have been convicted in the two cases filed for murder and explosives.
The grenade attack on the Awami League rally in 2004 had killed 24 people including AL Women’s wing chief and late president Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivu Rahman and injured at least 300 others. PM Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the assassination attempt but suffered damages in her ear drums.
Take a look at the charges and convicts in the cases –
Charge: Conspiracy and planning of the attacks
Accused persons: Tarique Rahman, Lutfozzaman Babar, Abdus Salam Pintu, Abul Harris Chowdhury, former political secretary to prime minister Khaleda Zia, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, BNP lawmaker, Brig Gen (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, the then DGFI director, Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim, then NSI DG, Mohammad Hanif, owner of Hanif Paribahan, and BNP leader Ariful Islam Arif, also a former councillor of Dhaka City Corporation.
These 9 persons were convicted for planning the assassination under the protection of affiliation of government agencies and top officials.
Charge: Attempt to murder, murder, abetment, grievous hurt & criminal liability
Accused persons: Huji founder Abdus Salam, Huji leaders Maulana Sheikh Farid, Maulana AbdurRouf, Maulana Abdul Hannan Sabbir, Kashmir-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Abdul Malek alias Golam Mohammad, Pakistan-based LeT leader Yusuf Butt alias Majid Butt, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hai, Hafez Maulana Yahya, Babu alias Ratul Babu, Mohibullah alias Mafizur Rahman alias Ovi, Maulana Abu Sayeed alias Dr Abu Zafar, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Jahangir Alam, Maulana Abu Taher, Shahadatullah Jewel, Hossain Ahmed Tamim, Mufti Moinuddin Sheikh alias Abu Zandal alias Masum Billah, Arif Hasan Sumon, Rafiqul Islam Sabuj, Mohammad Ujjal alias Ratan, Maulana Tajuddin, Maulana Liton, Anisul Mursalin and his brother Mahibul Muttakin, Md Iqbal, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Howlader, Jahangir Alam Badar and Khalilur Rahman.
The twenty-nine have been charged with causing grievous hurt, attempt to murder, murder, abetment and criminal liability.
Md Tajuddin, Maulana Sheikh Abdussalam, Md Majed Bhart, Abdul Malek, Mohibullah alias Ovi, Maulana Abu Sayeed, Abul Kalam Azad, Md Jahangir Alam, Hafez Maulana Abu Taher, Hossain Md Tamim, Moinuddin Sheikh, Md Rafiqul Islam, Md Ujjal alias Ratan, former home minister Lutfozzaman Babar, Major General Rezzaqul Hayder Chowdhury, Br Gen (retired) Abdur Rahim, Mohammad Abdus Salam Pintu and owner of Hanif transportation owner Md Hanif have been sentenced to death in the two cases for their direct involvement in the execution of the attacks.
The rest of the convicts, including acting BNP chief Tarique Rahman, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the planning of the attacks.
