Dhaka, October 10 – After the August 21 grenade attack cases verdict, the ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader Wednesday again demanded death penalty for BNP’s acting Vice-chairman Tarique Rahman as ‘he was the mastermind of the attack’.The AL general secretary also demanded a trial of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in connection with the grenade attack charges as she was aware of the attack but she didn’t take any measure to deter the
attackers.
He came up with the demands while talking to the reporters at a press conference was organized to give formal reaction over the verdict, at the party’s Dhanmondi office in the city.
“Mufti Hannan acknowledged in his confessional statement before the court that they had carried out the attack on the Awami League rally taking permission from Tarique Rahman, therefore, he should be awarded capital punishment in the case,” he said.
Earlier, in his instant reaction, Quader said they are not fully satisfied over the verdict of August 21 grenade attack cases, as the BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman was not awarded capital
punishment.
“Tarique Rahman was the mastermind of August 21 grenade attack, so he should be awarded capital punishment. However, we are not unhappy and at the same time we are not fully satisfied,” said Quader.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, told the reporters in his instant reaction over the verdict after signing a contract of MRT Line-1 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center
in Dhaka.
The AL general secretary said BNP’s acting vice-chairman Tarique Rahman used to control all things from his Hawa Bhaban. It was the centre of power. The plan of the grenade attack was mapped out from
the Hawa Bhaban., he added.
He also said the prime target of the horrible attack was the then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a bid to kill her.
The verdict, however, over the grenade attack has come after 14 years while it emerged as a topic of public discussion and criticism over the years, he said.
Earlier, a special court sentenced to death to 19 people including former junior home minister Lutfuzzaman Babar and life imprisonment to another 19 including ex-premier Khaleda Zia’s fugitive son Tarique Rahman on August 21, 2004 grenade attack charge.
A total of 24 AL leaders and workers, including the then Mohila Awami League President and wife of late President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman, were killed and around 500 others were injured in the monstrous
attack.- Staff Reporter
