21 Aug grenade attack verdict draws global media attention

21 Aug grenade attack verdict draws global media attention
21 Aug grenade attack verdict draws global media attention

The attention of the media around the world has been drawn to the verdict of the 21 August grenade attack case.

Nineteen people, including former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, were sentenced to death while opposition BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman and 18 others jailed for life in the attack on a rally of the then opposition, currently ruling, Bangladesh Awami League (AL), on 2004.

Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-5, set up at the abandoned central jail at Old Dhaka’s Nazimuddin Road, delivered the verdict on Wednesday nooon.

International news media like the BBC, Al Jazeera, AP and AFP published the news with due importance.

The BBC has published a news report titled 'Bangladesh to hang 19 for deadly attack on 2004 rally.

Al Jazeera published the verdict as their lead news item under the heading 'Bangladesh court sentences 19 to death over 2004 attack'.

Noted news agency Reuters' headline read 'Bangladesh court hands life sentence to acting opposition party chief over 2004 blasts' while agency giant AFP's title was 'Bangladesh sentences 19 to death over 2004 attack'.

“The opposition is in disarray ahead of general elections set for December, with Rahman [Tarique] trying to run its campaign from exile in London after his mother and party leader, former premier Khaleda Zia, was jailed on corruption charges in February,” the Reuters report said.

The AP headline read 'Bangladesh sentences 19 to death in political rally attack'.