The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned until May 26 the hearing on a leave-to-appeal petition challenging the High Court’s verdict that acquitted all individuals previously convicted in the murder and explosives cases related to the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka.
A six-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, issued the adjournment after partially hearing arguments earlier in the day.
Representing the state, Additional Attorney Generals Mohammad Abdul Jabber Bhuiyan, Mohammad Arshadur Rouf, and Aneek Rushd Haque presented their submissions. Senior Advocate SM Shahjahan and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir appeared for the defence.
The High Court had delivered its controversial verdict on December 1, 2024, overturning the lower court’s decision in both the murder and explosives cases. The verdict followed hearings on the death references and appeals submitted by the accused.
In its short judgment, the High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain stated: “Death reference is rejected, all appeals are allowed, all rules are made absolute.”
According to defence counsel Advocate Shishir Manir, the High Court observed that the lower court proceedings were flawed and not conducted in accordance with legal standards. “No eyewitnesses were examined; all witnesses were hearsay-based,” he said.
He also noted that the trial court’s verdict relied heavily on a confessional statement by Mufti Abdul Hannan, which the High Court deemed inadmissible as it was obtained under duress.
The grenade attack on August 21, 2004, resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people and left scores injured, marking one of the deadliest political attacks in Bangladesh’s history.
