Hearing on death references in Aug 21 grenade attack cases likely this year

The High Court (HC) may start hearing on the death references and appeals in August 21 grenade attack cases by this year as paper books of those will be prepared in two-four months, Law Minister Anisul Huq said today.

“The work for preparing the paper books of the cases has already started. We are trying so that the hearing on death references and appeals starts as soon as possible,” he said while talking to reporters at his secretariat office.     

A paper book contains all the details of a case, trial proceedings, statements, evidence, verdicts and other documents. It is necessary for the HC to hear and dispose of a death reference and an appeal. Once the paper book is ready, an HC bench hears and disposes of its death reference and appeal.

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), if a lower court awards death penalty, the verdict is examined by the HC for confirmation of the punishment.

Today, the law minister said: “I can say that the relevant process for preparing the paper books have already started. The prosecution will see so that the paper books of the August 21 grenade attack cases are readied quickly. The paper books will be much big as those have total 225 witnesses.”

Replying to a question, Minister Anisul said the government is working to bring all the fugitive convicts of the cases including BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman back to the country to execute the court verdict on them.

“There are some complexities in bringing the fugitives back to the country and the government is trying to resolving the problems in this regard,” he said.     A special court in Dhaka delivered the verdict in the cases on October 10 last year.

Tarique Rahman, elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, 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 murder through conspiracy.

All the 38 accused were also sentenced to life in prison for causing grievous injuries to the survivors.

On January 13, the HC accepted the appeals for hearing and also stayed part of the trial court verdict that fined the convicts of the cases.

The HC will hold the hearing on the death references and appeals after relevant procedures are completed.