Aug 21 Grenade Attack Cases: HC hearing on appeals may start soon

The High Court is expected to start soon the hearing on the death references and appeals against the verdict of the August 21 grenade attack cases, as the paper books have already been prepared and appeals accepted for hearing.

The files relating to the sensational cases have been placed before Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain recently for taking necessary decision, an official of the HC told The Daily Star on December 4, requesting anonymity.

He said the chief justice may now assign an HC bench for hearing and disposing of the cases.

Contacted, Law Minister Anisul Huq told this correspondent that paper books of August 21 cases have been readied, and now the HC is supposed to start hearing of the death references and appeals.

He said it might be difficult for the HC to hold hearing on such big cases during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as most of the HC benches are performing judicial functions virtually using information technology.

"Nevertheless, let us see whether the High Court can start hearing of the cases as soon as possible," the law minister added.

A paper book, which contains all the details of a case, trial proceedings, evidence, order and verdict, is necessary for the HC to hear and dispose of a death reference or an appeal.

If a lower court sentences a person to death in a case, its judgment is examined by the HC through hearing arguments for confirmation of the death sentence. The case documents and judgment reach the HC as death references from the lower court within seven days of delivery of the verdict.

On August 21, 2004, at least 24 people were killed and around 300 injured in the grisly attack on an Awami League rally at the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue. Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister and then the opposition leader in parliament, narrowly survived with an ear injury.

A Dhaka court, on October 10, 2018, sentenced 19 people -- including former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar -- to death, and 19 others -- including BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman -- to life imprisonment in the two cases filed in relation to the grenade attack.

HC sources said the authorities prepared the paper books in the first week of August this year and these finally reached the HC on August 16, clearing the way for the court to start a hearing on the death references and appeals of the cases.

The murder case filed over the attack has 585 paper books containing around 10,500 pages.

A total of 22 appeals have been filed by the convicts independently through lawyers while 12 jail appeals have been filed by convicts through jail authorities, in connection with the murder case.

Meanwhile, the case filed separately under the Explosives Substances Act, has 495 paper books containing around 10,000 pages.

A total of 17 appeals have been filed by the convicts independently thorough lawyers while 12 jail appeals have been filed by convicts through jail authorities, in connection with the explosives-related case.

The death references on the August 21 cases reached the HC on November 27, 2018 for examination of the trial court's verdict.

On January 13 last year, the HC accepted the appeals filed by the convicts.

The same day, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also stayed the part of the trial court verdict that fined the convicts.

The bench passed the order as the appeals filed by the convicts, who are now in jail, were included in its cause list on that day.