21 Aug grenade attack case verdict on 10 Oct

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A speedy trial tribunal in Dhaka on Tuesday fixed 10 October to deliver its verdict in two cases filed over the grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital on 21 August 2004, reports UNB.

After hearing the closing arguments, judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 fixed the date.

The court also rejected the bail of eight accused and issued an order to send them to jail immediately.

Earlier, the court set 17 and 18 September for hearing the closing arguments after hearing the prosecution's rebuttal arguments against defence arguments on 12 September.

On 23 October last, the prosecution started placing arguments before the tribunal in connection with the two cases filed over the 21cAugust grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004.

On 21cAugust 2004, the grisly grenade attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally arranged by Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue during the BNP-Jamaat alliance's rule, allegedly aiming to kill then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina.

At least 24 leaders and activists, including AL's women affairs secretary and late president Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman, were killed and 300 others injured in the grenade attack.

Although Sheikh Hasina fortunately escaped unhurt in the attack, her hearing was affected badly.

Then the two cases -- one under the Explosive Substances Act and another for murder -- were filed in connection with the grenade attack.

On 11 June, 2008, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted a charge-sheet against 22 people in the case.

The court on 21 August, 2010 ordered further investigation into the grenade attack following a petition filed by the state.