It has been 10 years since the dastardly grenade attack aimed at killing Awami League President Sheikh Hasina. The attack took place during the government of the four-party alliance and attempts were made to lead investigations to a different direction. However, fresh facts were revealed during the caretaker government's rule. Then where the mahajote government of Awami League came to power, further investigations were carried out and the trial began. The prosecution feels it will take at least another year to complete the trial.
Over the past two and a half years, 38 persons were questioned in the two cases filed in this regard. The trial continues with the remaining witnesses giving their accounts.
Chief prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman tells Prothom Alo, the case if going though the natural course of law. He says that there are 491 witnesses in this case, including Sheikh Hasina. After the charge sheet was submitted during the caretaker government and now a supplementary charge sheet, so far 61 witnesses have been cross examined. In all, 99 persons have been questioned. It will not be necessary to cross examine all of the remaining witnesses. It will take another year to complete the case.
The defence lawyers, however, claim that the trial depends much on the political decision of the government.
The trial is being conducted in the Speedy Tribunal-1 makeshift courtroom near Dhaka Central Jail. The hearing takes place twice a week.
On 21 August 2004, a grenade attack took place at a rally of Awami League in Bangabandhu Avenue of the capital city. Twenty-two people were killed in the attack, including Awam League's Secretary for Women's Affairs Ivy Rahman. a few hundred were injured, including Sheikh Hasina, who was Leader of the Opposition at the time.