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From New Nation Online Edition Front Page A murder case was filed with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court yesterday accusing 28 persons, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid for their alleged involvement in grenade attacks on a public meeting of Awami League president Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city on August 21, 2004 that left at least 22 killed and more than 100 injured.
Awami League activist Alhaj Mohammad Badar Azizuddin, who was also injured in the grenade attack, filed the case with the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Syed Mujibul Huque yesterday morning under the Section 19 (Ka) of the Arms Act, Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act and Sections 324, 325, 307, 302, 34 and 506 of the Penal Code. Advocate Badal Chandra Saha moved the case on behalf of the complainant. In the case, nine Awami League leaders and activists, including the party's presidium member Abdur Razzak, Col (Retd) Shawkat Ali, Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin and Saber Hossain Chowdhury were made witnesses of the grenade attack incident. After hearing, Metropolitan Magistrate Syed Mujibul Huque ordered the officer-in-charge of Paltan Police Station to investigate the case and take necessary legal actions. When asked why he made so much delay in filing the case, complainant Badar Azizuddin told journalists at the CMM Court premises yesterday that he went to the police station concerned sometime in September 2004 and tried to file a murder case. But, the police refused him to register the case as the BNP-led four-party alliance government was in power at that time. The complainant alleged that he had received threats of attempt on his life several times after he went to the police station concerned to file the case. As a result, it was not possible for him to file the case as long as the BNP-led alliance government was in power. Other accused of the case are former state minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, former minister Mirza Abbas, former prime minister's Political Adviser Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, former state minister Amanullah Aman, former prime minister's Political Secretary Mosaddak Ali Falu, former prime minister's Adviser Brig (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah, former minister Barrister Aminul Huq, former National Security Intelligence (NSI) chief Maj Gen (Retd) Rezzakul Haider, Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation Mizanur Rahman Minu, former Commerce Adviser Barkatullah Bulu, former BNP MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, former BNP MP Helaluzzaman Talukder, controversial businessman and Channel 1 managing director Giasuddin Al Mamun, former Inspector General of Police Modabbir Hossain Chowdhury, former Additional IGP Faruque Ahmed, former Police Commissioner of Dhaka Khoda Baksh, former BNP MP Shahidul Huq Jamal, former Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd chairman Shah Abdul Halim, managing director Nurul Islam, Ward Commissioner Chowdhury Alam, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Abdul Kader Molla, AKM Ahsanul Taiyyeb Zakir and Krishak Dal general secretary Shahjahan Mia. It may be mentioned that grenades were thrown repeatedly on a public meeting of Awami League in front of the party's central office at 23, Bangabandhu Avenue in the afternoon on August 21, 2004. During the incident, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was delivering her address on a truck. Twenty-two leaders and activists of Awami League, including the party's women affairs secretary Ivy Rahman, lost their lives in that heinous grenade attacks. The incident resulted in widespread condemnation both at home and abroad. Many of those who were injured in the grenade attacks on that fateful afternoon subsequently became physically disabled and mentally devastated. Later, a case was filed and investigations were carried out. Even, forensic and explosive experts from Interpol and FBI were brought in Bangladesh. They visited the spots several times and collected evidences for examinations. However, there are allegations that the Interpol and FBI experts could not make any progress in their investigations as they did not get necessary cooperation from the then police administration under the BNP led four-party alliance government. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Abdul Karim told reporters that much progress was achieved in the investigation process of August 21 Grenade Attacks Case. While reviewing the progresses of 10 sensational murder cases placed under the monitoring cell of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Home Secretary said substantial progress was achieved in the investigation of August 21 grenade attack case. However, Abdul Karim said, "If the court ordered the Home Ministry, we will bring the latest case under the supervision of Monitoring Cell." The Monitoring Cell was established to review the progresses of investigations into the sensational murder cases and send them to the courts for quick disposal. The Home Secretary yesterday reviewed 10 sensational cases, including the Awami League leader and former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria murder case, case related to grenade attacks on British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in Sylhet, businessman Jamaluddin murder case in Chittagong, with senior officials of the law enforcing agencies at the Home Ministry's conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat. © Copyright 2003 by ittefaq.com |
