Supreme Court to Deliver Verdict on Tarique Rahman’s Acquittal in August 21 Grenade Cases on September 4

The Supreme Court has scheduled September 4 to issue its decision on appeals challenging the High Court’s acquittal of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar, and others in two cases linked to the August 21 grenade attack.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, set the date after hearing arguments on the appeals.

Defence lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir urged the apex court to dismiss the appeals and uphold the High Court’s verdict, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against his clients.

On the other hand, Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Masud requested the court to overturn the High Court decision and reinstate the trial court verdicts.

Earlier, another defence counsel, SM Shahjahan, emphasized that there was no evidence linking the accused to the grenade attack, the alleged conspiracy, or the scene of the incident. He appealed to the court to maintain the High Court’s acquittal of all defendants.

The High Court had acquitted all 49 accused, including Tarique Rahman and Lutfozzaman Babar, on December 1 last year, overturning the previous trial court convictions in connection with the 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally.

Following this, the state filed appeals with the Appellate Division to challenge the High Court ruling. On June 2, the Supreme Court allowed the government to proceed with two appeals against the acquittal.