Dhaka, May 30 – The hearing of arguments on behalf of accused Saiful Islam Duke in the Grenade attack case and the other case filed in connection with the same incident under the Explosives Substances Act ended on Wednesday. Later, the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka fixed June 5 and 6 for hearing arguments on behalf of other six accused of the case. Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of the court took the decisions.
Senior Advocate Abdur Rezak Khan placed arguments on behalf of Duke. Rezak Khan told the court the charges were brought against Duke on the basis of no substantial evidence. His name is not included in the First Information Report (FIR). Of the accused, arguments were placed on behalf of 38.
Of the accused 3 accused were executed as they were awarded death sentences in other cases, for which the number of accused in the case fell to 49. Of them, 18 are at large including BNP leader Tareque Rahman, 8 on bail and the rest 23 are in the jail.
On August 21, 2004, grenade on a rally of the incumbent Awami League caused the death of 22 workers and leaders. Besides, several hundred others were injured including women Awami League leader Ivy Rahman, who could not survive the attack. The incumbent Prime Minister narrowly escaped the attack, but she was also injured in the incident. – Court Correspondent
