Supreme Court Upholds Acquittal in Aug 21 Grenade Attack Cases

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld the High Court’s earlier ruling that cleared BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, former State Minister Lutfozzaman Babar, and 47 others in two cases tied to the August 21 grenade attack.

A six-member bench dismissed the state’s appeal against the High Court verdict.

The apex court raised concerns over the validity of confessional statements presented during trial, noting that multiple confessions were recorded on the same day, which it described as irregular and questionable.

It also struck down the High Court’s observation that had suggested a possible reinvestigation by the home ministry. Authorities were instructed to release any accused still imprisoned under the cases.

Defence lawyers welcomed the decision, saying the confessions were extracted through coercion and lacked legal basis. They argued that no magistrate’s order had sanctioned custody of the accused, who were instead kept at a task force facility, and in some cases, statements were taken unlawfully.

BNP leaders reacted by claiming the case had been politically motivated and aimed at implicating Tarique Rahman. They said the verdict confirmed his innocence and exposed political interference in the judicial process.

On December 1, 2024, the High Court acquitted all 49 accused, overturning lower court rulings that had convicted and sentenced them. Following that decision, the state had appealed, which has now been dismissed by the Supreme Court, effectively closing the matter.