Prosecution to give formal reaction after verdict’s scrutiny

The prosecution sides will give their formal reaction after conducting a thorough scrutiny of the verdict in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack cases, reports BSS.

A Dhaka special court on Wednesday sentenced death penalty to 19 accused including then State Minister Lutfuzzaman Babar and Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, life term imprisonment to 19 others including BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman and 11 others to various jail terms.

“Sixteen crore people of the country had been waiting for the verdict for long four years and the nation freed from another stigma with delivering verdict today,” said Chief Persecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman while delivering his reaction over the verdict to newsmen on the court premises.

But, he denied commenting whether they are satisfied or not with the verdict, saying, “We don’t say anything about it just now as the formal reaction will be made public after conducting a thorough scrutiny of the verdict. If necessary, we will go to the higher court for expansion of sentences (of some accused).”

Quoting the court observation over the attack, he also said, “The court in its observation said that the August 21, 2004 grenade attack was carried out mainly to eliminate the Awami League leadership likewise the August 15, 1975 barbaric attack which was targeted to kill Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.”

In his reaction immediately, another prosecutor in the case, Advocate Moshrraf Hossain Kazal has sounded the same saying, “BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman was sentenced to life time imprisonment in both the murder and explosives cases. But, he and some others deserved death penalty as he had masterminded the attack. After scrutnising the verdict, we will file appeal with the High Court for extension of his punishment.”

But, he said, “I am happy as all the accused in the grenade attack cases were awarded punishment. Death penalty was given to nineteen accused, including then State Minister Lutfuzzaman Babar and Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, and life time imprisonment to 19 others, including Haris Chowdhury, political adviser of the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.”