Defence starts placing arguments in Aug 21 grenade attack case

The defence in the August 21 grenade attack case started placing its arguments and counsel for fugitive accused Md Hanif took the podium on the first day, reports BSS.

Advocate Chaitanya Halder, counsel for Hanif Paribahan owner Md Hanif, started placing arguments of depositions, saying name of his client was added in the case only after second testimonies of HuJI leader Mufti Abdul Hannan.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kazal on Tuesday also placed arguments referring part of Bangabandhu murder trial.

"The criminals carried out the attack on August 21, 2004, to make a void in the leadership of Awami League by killing its president Sheikh Hasina. The attack came in continuation of crimes like killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and attempt to murder former British envoy Anwar Chowdhury," Kazal said. The prosecutor, however, failed to wrap up his arguments.

Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of Dhaka 1st Speedy Trial Tribunal said the prosecution would get time to place its arguments once the defence is finished. The court then adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.

Chief prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman yesterday concluded his part of arguments pleading for awarding maximum punishment to the accused.