21 Aug Grenade Attack Trial
'Ejlash' shifted over 'security' concerns
The counsel of former inspector general of police (IGP) Khoda Baksh Chowdhury yesterday appealed to a Dhaka court to discharge his client from the charges of August 21 grenade attack cases.
Meanwhile, the government has shifted the court "ejlash" of the cases from Dhaka Judges' Court area to Nazimuddin Road for easily and safely producing all the accused before the court from the jail, a law ministry official asking anonymity told The Daily Star yesterday.
The law ministry yesterday issued a statutory regulatory order (SRO) saying that the trial of August 21 grenade attack cases will now be held at Old Jailer Barrack Building near the main gate of Dhaka Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road in the city.
On August 21, 2004, grenade blasts at an Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue killed 24 AL leaders and workers and maimed around 200 others.
Now trial of two cases in this connection are pending with Speedy Trial Tribunal-1, Dhaka.
During hearing yesterday, Abdur Rashid, counsel for Khoda Baksh, said the former IGP was implicated in the cases though his client was out of the country during the attack in 2004.
The judge fixed October 17 for next hearing.
Meanwhile, the prosecution drew the attention of the tribunal-1 to a report of Amader Shomoy on the confessional statement of detained Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan.
The report on October 12 said it found some posters sticking on walls of several buildings in the capital's Mohakhali, which said Hannan was forced to give the statement involving Tarique Rahman, Harris Chowdhury, and Abdus Salam Pintu in the grenade attack cases.
In reply to the prosecution's step, Judge Shahed Nuruddin observed to be alert in making any comment or publishing any news on a matter when a trial on the issue is ongoing in a court.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments