Grenade Attack Case: SC denies bail to ex-DIG, ex-DMP deputy commissioner

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday denied bail to two convicts -- former deputy inspector general of police Khan Sayeed Hasan and former deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Obaidur Rahman Khan -- in the August 21 grenade attack cases.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain dismissed a petition filed by the two.

They were sentenced to two years' imprisonment and fined Tk 50,000 each by the trial court and sent to jail on January 28 last year after they surrendered to a lower court in connection with the cases.

The SC's High Court Division on March 9 this year rejected a petition filed by them seeking bail in the cases.

Later, they submitted a petition to the Appellate Division challenging the HC's rejection order. After virtually holding hearing on it, the apex court yesterday dismissed their petition.

Lawyer Arshadur Rauf appeared for the two while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin opposed their bail petition.

A Dhaka court on October 10, 2018 sentenced 19 persons -- including former state minister and BNP leader Lutfozzaman Babar to death, and 19 others -- including BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman, to life imprisonment in connection with two cases over the August 21 grenade attack.

Besides, 11 people including Khan Sayeed Hasan and Obaidur Rahman Khan were given different jail terms in the cases.

At least 24 people were killed and around 300 injured in the grisly attack on an Awami League rally on the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.

Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader in parliament, narrowly escaped the attack with an ear injury.