Former premier Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, Jamaat chief Matiur Rahman Nizami and 25 others were charged with murder yesterday in the August 21 grenade attacks on an Awami League (AL) rally about three years ago.
Badar Aziz Uddin of Cox's Bazar who was injured in the attacks that left 23 killed and scores wounded on Bangabandhu Avenue in the city filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka.
The other accused include Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, former BNP lawmakers Amanullah Aman, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, Mirza Abbas, Mosaddek Ali Falu, Barkat Ullah Bulu, Salahuddin
Ahmed, Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, Helaluzzaman Talukder Lalu, Krishak Dal General Secretary Shahjahan Mian, Islami Bank Managing Director Nurul Islam, and businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun. The complainant said former BNP lawmakers Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, Helaluzzaman Talukder Lalu, businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, Islami Bank Managing Director Nurul Islam, Krishak Dal General Secretary Shahjahan Mian, and some unidentified goons hurled grenades moments after Sheikh Hasina had stepped down from the dais.
The blasts were carried out on instructions from BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, Matiur Rahman Nizami, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, former BNP lawmakers Amanullah Aman, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, Mirza Abbas, Mosaddek Ali Falu, Barkat Ullah Bulu, and Salahuddin Ahmed.
The other accused include Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah, Brig Gen (retired) Hannan Shah, the then National Security Intelligence (NSI) boss Maj Gen (retired) Rezzakul Haider, police chief Modabbir Hossain Chowdhury, BNP leader and former minister Aminul Huq, Rajshahi Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, ex-additional IGP Faruq Ahmed, ex-DMP commissioner Khoda Bux, Islami Bank Chairman Abdul Halim, Shahidul Huq Jamal of Pirojpur, Ward Commissioner and BNP leader Chowdhury Alam and AKM Ahsanul Tayab Zakir of Bogra.
The magistrate asked the officerin-charge of Paltan police to inquire into the case and submit a report.
Earlier, a day after the attack, police filed a case with the Motijheel Police Station against 200 people in connection with the grenade blasts. Two GDs filed by AL leaders Abdul Jalil and Saber Hossain Chowdhury the same day were merged with the police case.
The military-backed interim government on March 25 described the case as sensational and placed it on the list of the home ministry's monitoring cell for proper investigation and quick disposal.
However, sources said no headway has yet been made in the investigation.
CASE STATEMENT
The complainant said that he saw something blackish falling on the truck from the direction of Ramna Bhaban at 5:20pm. Soon the entire area was full of choking smoke and people running for cover as grenades continued to explode.
After the first four to five blasts the complainant went to 27 Bangabandhu Avenue along with several AL leaders including Swechhashebak League President AFM Bahauddin Nasim.
There he saw from a distance of some 10 yards a man named Nayan, 42, in white striped shirt and four others still throwing grenades.
As Badar Aziz Uddin [the complainant] and others began a chase after the grenade throwers, the law enforcers did not bother to catch the assailants. Rather, they fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters on those already attacked.
He added that soon he fell injured as police continued attack- ing the injured AL leaders and workers.
Later when some leaders tried to help the then opposition leader of parliament get on her car, the attackers began throwing grenades again and opened fire on them.
The complainant alleged that the attack was designed to kill Hasina and the other top AL leaders. He said the law enforcers deployed there had all along been aware of the plot and played a mere onlooker's role.
He also observed that police attacked the AL men to ensure the raiders escaped unchallenged.
In the case statement, he accused the then ruling alliance leaders of destroying the crime scene evidence. They also hid the footages that private television channel ntv telecast in the evening of August 21.
Besides, the two unexploded grenades recovered from the scene were destroyed in haste without collecting the fingerprints supposed to be on them, alleged the complainant.
Ramna police refused to take any complaint and which is why he had to file the case with a court.
The complainant said it took him long to come up with the complaint as he was under treatment at different hospitals and there was intervention from the immediate past government.
He said the remarks of Khaleda Zia and her associates ridiculing the repeated attacks and death threats against Sheikh Hasina had in fact incited the killers of August 15 and November 3 in 1975 and their henchmen to stage the August 21 blasts.
The case was filed under the sections 324/325/204/326/427/ 307/302/506/34 of the penal code and section 3/4 of Explosive Substances Act.