Dhaka: The Supreme Court (SC) today adjourned the hearing on a state appeal against the High Court's judgment that had acquitted all individuals previously convicted by a lower court in connection with the murder and explosives substances act cases related to the grenade attack on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. The hearing has been rescheduled for July 24.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a six-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed issued the postponement order after conducting the inaugural day's hearing on the matter. Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud represented the state, while senior Advocate SM Shahjahan and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir defended the accused.
Advocate SM Shahjahan explained, "The hearing was initiated at the Appellate Division, where I was appointed to defend cases for fugitive convicts Mawlana Tajuddin and Md Hanif, both sentenced to death." He added that the state began presenting the paper book today, detailing depositions and the High Court judgment.
On June 1, 2025, the apex court had granted a leave to appeal against the High Court's judgment that acquitted all individuals convicted by the lower court in the two related cases. The High Court, on December 1, 2024, had nullified the lower court's judgment after reviewing the death references, criminal, and jail appeals.
Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain of the High Court bench declared, "Death Reference is rejected, all appeals are allowed, all rules are absolute," in their short judgments. Advocate Shishir Manir highlighted that the court found the lower court's trial illegal, as no eyewitnesses were examined and the convictions were based on hearsay.
Manir further noted that the lower court's decision relied heavily on a confessional statement by Mufti Abdul Hannan, which lacked evidential value due to being obtained under duress.
The grenade attack on the Awami League rally resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 24 individuals and left many others injured on August 21, 2004, at Bangabandhu Avenue.