Case still pending for delay by defence
Muhammad Yeasin
Despite the lapse of 13 years since the grenade attack on Sheikh Hasinas political rally on August 21, 2004, the case has not been disposed of as yet due to unnecessary delay by defence lawyers during the trial process. The trial proceedings were hampered due to irrelevant and unnecessary time killing by the defence lawyers. Otherwise, the trial proceedings could have been completed by now, Syed Rezaur Rahman, chief prosecutor in the case, told The Independent yesterday. Rahman said prosecution witness Shadek Hossain Rumi, who was then the director general of DGFI,
had recorded his witness statement. But, the defence team took three months to cross-examine his statement, he added. During the cross-examination, the defence lawyers asked many irrelevant questions only to delay the trial proceedings, he said.
Besides, the defence lawyers have submitted the written statements of 18 witnesses. If anyone submits written statements, there is no need to record their statements. But, they have been recording their statements in order to kill time, the chief prosecutor explained.
At present, the recording of the statements of the 12th defence witness are going on, and the statements of six more defence witnesses are still to be recorded, he added.
After that, the witnesses statements will be cross-examined and then the court will hear the final arguments
from both parties, before delivering its verdict, he said.
The chief prosecutor hoped that the trial proceeding would be completed by this year.
The heinous attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally by Awami League to kill the partys front ranking leaders, including Sheikh Hasina.
As many as 24 people, including the then Mohila Awami League President and wife of late President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman, were killed and 500 were injured. Sheikh Hasina and several front ranking leaders escaped the carnage narrowly.
According to the case history, the then sub-inspector of Motijheel police station, Faruk Hossain, had lodged a complaint on Aug 22, 2004.
Two cases were filed in connection with the blastsone under Explosive Substances Act and the other for murder.
The trial began in 2008, and the court has recorded the statements of 225 witnesses out of the total of 491 witnesses in both cases till date.
On June 9, 2008, the CID had pressed charges against BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and 20 others for the carnage.
Meantime, AL formed government in 2009 and submitted petitions on August 3, 2009 for further investigation in the cases. Following the pleas, the court ordered the CID to do so. On July 3, 2011, the CID submitted supplementary chargesheets against 30 people, including BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, BNP leader Harris Chowdhury, and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid.
On March 18, 2012, the court framed charges against Tarique and others. The second trial commenced the following month.
The trial against 52 accused in the two cases is being held simultaneously with Dhakas Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 at the makeshift court at a building near Dhaka Central Jail gate.
The court will hold the next hearing on August 22 and 23.
Sources in the intelligence agencies said of the 18 fugitive accused, Tarique Rahman was now in London, Harris Chowdhury was in Assam in India, Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad was in Bangkok, Mohammad Hanif, owner of Hanif Enterprise, was in Kolkata, Maj Gen (retd) ATM Amin was in the USA, Lt Col (retd) Saiful Islam Joarder was in Canada, Babu alias Ratul Babu was in India, and Anisul Morsalin and his brother Mohibul Muttakin were lodged in an Indian jail.
Militant leaders Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hai, Maulana Abu Bakar, Iqbal, Khalilur Rahman, Jahangir Alam alias Badar, Maulana Liton alias Zobair alias Delwar, and Maulana Tajul Islam, the then deputy commissioner (east), Md Obaidur Rahman, and the then deputy commissioner (south), Khan Syed Hasan, were also absconding. Of the accused, eight are on bail, while 26, including Lutfozzaman Babar, are behind bars.
One of the prime accused and former Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid has been hanged in a case pertaining to crimes against humanity during the countrys Liberation war.
