State appeals against acquittal in Aug 21 grenade attack case

The state has filed an appeal against the acquittal of all accused, including Tariq Rahman, in the August 21 grenade attack case. The appeal was submitted to the relevant branch of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division. Sources from the Attorney General's office confirmed the appeal on Wednesday, March 19. A hearing is expected to take place in the Appellate Division's chamber judge court.

Earlier, on December 1, a High Court bench consisting of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered a verdict acquitting Tariq Rahman and all other accused in the case.

On October 10, 2018, a Dhaka court sentenced 19 people, including former BNP State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, to death in two cases related to the grenade attack. Tariq Rahman, who is currently residing in London, along with 19 others, was sentenced to life imprisonment, while 11 others received various prison terms.

In its observations, the High Court stated that the verdicts from the lower court in these cases were illegal, as they were delivered through unlawful means. On August 21, 2004, a grenade attack on an Awami League rally on Dhaka's Bangabandhu Avenue resulted in 24 deaths and left nearly 300 people injured. The cases were filed in connection with the incident.