IO finds ISI patronage in Aug 21 grenade attack
UNB
Five militant outfits carried out the grisly August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004 under the patronage of Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence, special police super of Criminal Investigation Department Abdul Kahar Akand told a Dhaka court yesterday, UNB reports.
He also claimed that the militants groups had been organised under BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias eldest son Tarique Rahman from the Hawa Bhaban.
Abdul Kahar Akand, also the investigation officer of the case filed over the incident and the last witness, made the claim while being cross-examined by the counsels of Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan at the Dhakas Speedy Trial Tribunal-1.
He told the tribunal that the grenade attack was planned to kill Sheikh Hasina who had been a barrier to establishing Islamic rule in the country and to wipe out Awami League leadership.
He also informed the court about the
money which came from Islamabad in
different times through a bank. During the cross-examination, Hannans counsels claimed him innocent.
Twenty-four people, including then women affairs secretary of Awami League Ivy Rahman, were killed and over 200 injured in the grisly grenade attack on a public meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue on Aug 21, 2004.
The then AL chief, now Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, narrowly escaped death during the attack.
On June 11, 2008, the CID submitted a charge sheet against 22 people, including Mufti Hannan, in the case.
The court on August 21, 2010 ordered further investigation into the grenade attack following a petition filed by the state.
After reinvestigation, the CID submitted two supplementary charge sheets in the murder and explosive substance cases implicating 30 other people, including BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, BNP
chairpersons former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, former State Minister for Home Lutfazzaman Babar and Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed.
