Aug 21 Grenade Attack
Babar showed negligence in arresting real culprits
Ex-police officer tells court
A former police officer yesterday told a Dhaka court that the then state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar had showed negligence in arresting the real culprits after the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.
SM Mizanur Rahman, who had become the acting commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police three hours before the attack, said this while replying to a question of the defence lawyer Abdus Sobhan Tarafder.
Mizanur is now on leave preparatory to retirement (LPR).
He told Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 that he had given his statement to the investigating officer, narrating Babar's negligence and reluctance in investigating the August 21 grenade attack cases and arresting the real accused.
Additional Superintendent of Police of CID Abdul Kahar Akond recorded his statement on February 3, 2008.
Meantime, the defence lawyers for 26 other accused, including BNP leader Abul Harris Chowdhury, have completed cross-examining Mizanur.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 recorded Mizanur's statement yesterday and fixed September 23 and 24 for the next hearing.
The August 21 grenade attack was aimed at assassinating Awami League President and the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina. Though she survived the attack, 24 AL leaders and activists were killed and 300 others injured. AL leader Ivy Rahman, wife of President Zillur Rahman, was among the slain.
Advocate Syed Rezaur Rahman, chief counsel for the August 21 grenade attack cases, appeared for the state, while Mahboob Ahmad and Abdullah Mahmud Hassan defended the accused.
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