Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed satisfaction over the High Court verdict that acquitted the party's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and all others convicted by the lower court in two cases over the August 21 grenade attack. "I express gratitude to the Almighty Allah for the acquittal of Tarique Rahman and all accused in the August 21 cases," Fakhrul stated from London. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mirza Fakhrul is currently in London on a 10-day visit along with his spouse. The High Court today acquitted all individuals who were convicted by the lower court in two cases-one on murder and another on explosives substances-filed over the grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. A High Court division bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the verdict, overturning the lower court judgment in the two cases. In the statement, Mirza Fakhrul clai med that the High Court verdict proved that the Awami League regime had implicated Tarique Rahman in these cases with ulterior political motives. He mentioned that Tarique Rahman sought acquittal through legal means, faced the charges in court, and was finally acquitted by the High Court. Terming the verdict as 'historic,' he asserted that it demonstrated that the cases against Tarique Rahman were part of a political conspiracy. Upon hearing the verdict, Mirza Fakhrul himself thanked Allah and urged all party members across the country to express their gratitude.
