Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas has asserted that the BNP was not involved in the August 21 grenade attack, and suggested the incident had international connections. He made these statements during a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, emphasizing that a foreign power attempted to manufacture false evidence against BNP leaders, including Begum Khaleda and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mirza Abbas claimed that the foreign entity aimed to wrongly incriminate BNP leaders and subsequently secured a conviction against Tarique Rahman based on what he described as a fabricated narrative. He highlighted that many individuals were sentenced in connection to the cases, but a recent High Court verdict has overturned these convictions, acquitting Tarique Rahman and others involved. Mirza Abbas welcomed the High Court's decision as a positive development, labeling it as 'Good News' during the month of victory for Bangladesh. He expressed optimism for future justice in the numerous cases filed against BNP leaders and activists during the tenure of the Awami League government. The High Court's ruling came from a division bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain, who nullified the lower court's judgments in two cases related to murder and explosives following the grenade attack on an Awami League rally on August 21, 2004. Reflecting on the hardships faced by Tarique Rahman post the 1/11 political changeover, Mirza Abbas recounted the severe health issues and torture Rahman endured. He mentioned Rahman's current stay abroad and his anticipated return to Bangladesh in the near future. The discussion titled 'Independence, Democracy and Voting Rights in the Current Context' was organized by Bangladesh Swadhinata Forum, a pro-BNP platform. Other notable speakers included BNP Vice-Chairmen Barkat Ullah Bulu and Nurul Islam Moni, Joint Secretary General Abdus Salam Azad, and Bangladesh Jatiya Dal (BJD) leade r Syed Ehsanul Huda.
