Speedy Trial Tribunal-1, a Special Court, on October 10 ruled in the two cases filed over the grenade attack on an Awami League rally on August 21, 2004 on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka, reports Daily Star. The incident primarily targeted at the then leader of opposition Sheikh Hasina Wajed resulted in the death of 24 people, several others were injured. Those found to be guilty include former State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, Bangladesh National Party (BNP) Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman and handed down various punishments for the bombing. Former Deputy Minister for Education Abdus Salam Pintu, former Director of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Brigadier General (retd) Rezzaqul Haider, former Director General of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Brigadier General (retd) Abdur Rahim were also found guilty in the case. All of these 38 accused were also sentenced to life term imprisonment for causing grievous injuries to the survivors. In the murder case, Tarique and 18 others were sentenced to life in prison while former State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar and 18 others were given death penalty on charges of killing through criminal conspiracy. The Special Court also found Tarique, Babar and 36 others guilty in the case filed under the explosives substance act and handed down punishments ranging from death sentence to 20 years in prison.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 observed, “The specialised deadly Arges grenades that are used in wars were blasted at the Awami League's Central Office on 23 Bangabandhu Avenue in broad daylight with the help of the then state machinery ". Judge Shahed Nuruddin further clarified, "The prosecution has been able to prove that the accused held meetings to conspire in different places before the incident and blasted grenades in a planned manner”.
Also, the grenades used in the August 21 attack to kill Sheikh Hasina were supplied by former Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu's brother Maulana Tajuddin, reports Daily Star. Tajuddin got those from Abu Yusuf Butt alias Abdul Majed Butt, a leader of the Pakistan-based militant outfit Hijbul Mujahidin (HM), which is active in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.