Dhaka, Sept 18 – The BNP, the arch-rival of the ruling Awami League, wants capital punishment to the actual perpetrators of the August 21st grenade attacks on then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina’s rally saying that none should be punished deliberately on political consideration. Talking to journalists, senior party leaders said they are observing the government’s move of disposal of sensitive cases and filing of “ghostly cases” ahead of the next general elections likely to be held later this year.
Some of them questioned the motive behind declaring the verdict of the grenade attack case 14 years after the gruesome incident that killed at least 24 AL leaders including Mohila Awami League president Ivy Rahman killed and injured over 500 people.
BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman termed the grenade attack as a militant attack saying that it tarnished the image of the country severely and broken the security system.
“We want the actual perpetrators should be booked to justice and none should be made victim unjustly,” he observed.
The former army chief further said the trial should be in an appropriate manner. The actual perpetrators should be given capital punishment considering the gravity of the incident, he added.
BNP vice chairman Selima Rahman said that they have no objection over holding trail of actual accused ensuring justice.
She however expressed her concern over disposal and filing of cases ahead of the next elections what she said to mislead the people.
The actual perpetrators should be taken to justice. None should be made victim on political consideration, she said.
BNP joint secretary general Harun-or-Rashid termed the move to declare the verdict of August 21st ahead of the elections politically motivated one.
He questioned the delay to complete the investigation into the tragic incident despite what he said the AL was in power for the last 10 years. He mentioned the proverb that “Justice delayed justice denied.”
“Why the verdict is being declared when the Election Commission is going to announce the poll schedule next month,” he further questioned.
The BNP leader said let the actual perpetrators to the justice, otherwise, they would remain behind the scene.
