The state-appointed defence lawyer for BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman concluded his defence argument on Tuesday seeking acquittal for his fugitive client from the charges brought against him in August 21 grenade attack cases.
State defence counsel AKM Akhter Hossain finished placing his argument before the court of Judge Shahed Nuruddin of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 in favour of Tarique Rahman, who is currently staying in the UK.
The lawyer said the charges brought against his client had not been proven during the trial proceedings of the cases.
Seeking acquittal of Tarique from the charges, Akhter Hossain pointed out different contradictions between the statements of prosecution witnesses and the confessional statements of Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) chief Mufti Hannan.
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He also claimed that the prosecution completely failed to prove the charges against Tarique Rahman in the cases.
The court fixed Wednesday for placing argument on behalf of the other accused.
On Tuesday, state defence counsel Akhter started placing arguments for his fugitive client in two cases.
On December 27, prosecution concluded their closing arguments pleading maximum punishment for all the accused in the cases.
The makeshift court, set up at a building near the gate of former Dhaka Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road, is holding the trial in the cases - one for the murder and the other under the Explosive Substances Act - simultaneously.
The grisly attack on the Awami League rally in the capital left 24 people, including Ivy Rahman, wife of late President Zillur Rahman, dead and more than 300 others injured.
The incumbent Prime Minister and then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina survived the attack with serious hearing impairment.
Of the 52 accused in the two cases, eight are on bail while 24 others, including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, are behind bars.
BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and 17 other accused have been absconding and two accused - Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Mufti Abdul Hannan - were hanged in others cases.