BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Sunday described the High Court verdict in the August 21 grenade attack cases as 'good news of justice' in the month of victory.
“I want to share a piece of victory news on the first day of Victory Month… the court has acquitted Tarique Rahman and others in the August 21 grenade attack cases, as they were not involved in it,” he said during a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.
Bangladesh Swadhinata Forum, a pro-BNP platform, organised a programme titled “Independence, Democracy and Voting Rights in the Current Context”.
The BNP leader alleged that they had not received justice during the Awami League's rule. "We received our first piece of good news today (Sunday), on the first day of December... Insha Allah, we are hopeful of more good news in the future."
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Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, mentioned that thousands of party leaders and workers are expecting 'justice' in the cases filed against them during the Awami League government’s tenure.
Earlier in the day, the High Court (HC) overturned the verdict of a lower court in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack, acquitting all those convicted, including BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar.
An HC bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the judgement on Sunday.
The court also declared the charge sheet in the case illegal.
The grenade attack, a shocking incident, occurred on Dhaka's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.
Foreign Conspiracy
Abbas claimed that the August 21 grenade attack was masterminded by a foreign power as the BNP had never been involved in the incident. "A foreign power sought to frame our leader Begum Khaleda Zia and our BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman by orchestrating the misdeeds," he said.
Later, Abbas said Tarique and several other BNP leaders had been convicted in false cases based on a fabricated story.
"The court today (Sunday) delivered a verdict confirming that Tarique Rahman was not involved in it... he has been acquitted."
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Tarique’s Return
Abbas also mentioned that Tarique Rahman would soon return to Bangladesh in good health. “That is why Allah has healed him, kept him healthy, and acquitted him."
He prayed to Allah to grant Tarique a long life so that he could continue to serve the people of the country.
The BNP leader also recounted the repression Tarique had faced after his arrest during the 1/11 political changeover.