File photos of the dead and injured persons lying on the ground following the grenade attack on Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina's meeting on August 21, 2004 — Focus Bangla After a long wait for over 14 years, a speedy trial tribunal is set to deliver its verdict today (Wednesday) in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004, reports UNB.
BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, two former ministers Abdus Salam Pintu and Lutfuzzaman Babar and former top police and intelligence officials of the then BNP-led four-party alliance government are among 49 accused in the cases.
Three other accused -- Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, and militant leaders Mufti Abdul Hannan and Sharif Shahedul Alam alias Bipu -- were dropped from the cases as they had been executed after convictions in other cases.
Of the accused, Tarique, then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's political secretary Abul Harris Chowdhury, former BNP MP Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad and 15 others are on the run.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 on Old Dhaka's Nazimuddin Road may start delivering verdict in the two cases around 10:45am, court sources said.
Earlier on September 18, the tribunal here fixed October 10 to pronounce its verdict in two cases -- one for murder and the other for grenade blast-- after both the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments.
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