Expressing satisfaction over the verdict in the cases regarding August 21, 2004 grenade attack, Law Minister Anisul Huq said Tarique Rahman was the main hero (mastermind) behind the attack and he deserves death penalty, BSS reported.
Asked about whether he is satisfied with the verdict, he said at his secretariat office, “We are satisfied with the verdict. But the main hero (mastermind) behind the attack was Begum Khaleda Zia’s eldest son Tarique Rahman and he deserves death penalty.”
“But, he (Tarique) was given life imprisonment. After through scrutiny of the verdict, we will file appeal with the higher court for enhancement of his punishment,” he continued.
Coming down heavily on BNP for not believing in rule of law, he said, “The Awami League government under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina has been relentlessly working to establish the rule of law with holding trail of all the cases. But, the BNP has destroyed the rule of law with not holding trial in such cases.”
Referring to the verdict in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack, the law minister said, “I have so far knew the court sentenced death penalty to 19 people (including then BNP’s state minister Lutfuzzaman Babar and deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu) and life term imprisonment to 19 others (including BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman and political adviser of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia).”
“It was quite satisfactory as all of the accused of the cases had been sentenced in the verdict,” he added.