21st August grenade attack cases: Paper books ready for hearing

The paper books of the sensational 21st Grenade Attack cases are now ready for hearing on the death references and appeals of the cases.

The paper books reached the Supreme Court from the Bangladesh Government Press today (Sunday), Supreme Court Spokesman Md Saifur Rahman told The Business Standard.

He said the hearing will start soon once the chief justice announces a bench in this regard.

A paper book contains all details of a case, trial proceedings, statements, evidence, orders, verdict and other relevant documents. It is crucial for the High Court to hear and dispose of a death reference or an appeal.

The court examines the judgment of death sentence given by a lower court by hearing arguments for confirmation of the death sentence.

Once a lower court delivers a verdict, the case documents and judgment should reach the High Court from the lower court as a death reference within seven days.

The attack on August 21 in 2004 killed 24 people, including the then president of Bangladesh Mohila Awami League and late President Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman, and injured over 500 others.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then the opposition leader, narrowly escaped death, but did receive severe injuries.

On October 10, 2018, a Dhaka court sentenced 19 people to death, including Lutfozzaman Babar, former state minister for home, for involvement in the attack.

Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and 18 others were sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the incident.