The prosecution at the hearing of August 21, 2004, grenade attack case on Monday blamed defence for wasting time on different excuses.
“They are dilly dallying and pleading for time on the hearing dates saying they have no preparation to place arguments. People are eagerly waiting to get justice over that monstrous event,” chief prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman told BSS.
Meanwhile, the defence in the case today continued placing arguments in the case as advocate Mohammad Ali, counsel for Mawlana Md Sayeed alias Jafar took part in the hearing for his client.
At the end of Monday’s hearing, Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of Dhaka 1st Speedy Trial Tribunal adjourned the proceedings of the case till today as advocate Ali failed to conclude his arguments.
On earlier occasions, counsels for BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, Hanif Paribahan owner Md Hanif, Md Khalil, Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, Haris Chowdhury, Anisul Mursalin, Jahangir Alam Badar, Ratul Ahmed Babu, Mohibul Mottakin, Mawlana Liton alias Jubayer, Mufti Shafikur Rahman, Md Iqbal, Mawlana Tazuddin and Abdul Hannan alias Mawlana Sabbir concluded placing arguments for their respective clients.
The prosecution in their closing arguments pleaded for maximum punishment for the accused in the trial.
“The main aim of that barbaric attack was to eliminate the top leadership of Awami League including its president Sheikh Hasina and create a vacuum among the force in support of War of Liberation and independence,” Chief Prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman said.
The chief prosecutor said one of the goals of the attackers was unimpeded activities of militant outfits like HuJI, Hijb-ul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiaba, Tehrik-e Jihad-e Islam and Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) in the country.
“Apart from these groups, Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and then BNP-Jamaat alliance government orchestrated the attack. The then government used Ministry of Home Affairs, DGFI, NSI and Bangladesh Police in executing the conspiracy,” he added.
According to the prosecution, the conspiracy behind the attack was hatched at Hawa Bhaban, Tarique Rahman’s so called political office in capital’s Banani.
“Meetings were held at that office in presence of Tarique and the then administration extended their helping hands to the attackers following the meetings,” Syed Rezaur Rahman said.
A total of 24 AL leaders and workers including the then Mohila Awami League President and wife of late President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman, were killed and 500 others were injured in the attack.
