Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that 15 convicts in the August 21 grenade attack case, including BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, have been absconding.
“Of the 49 convicts, 34 had been arrested. Fifteen convicts, including Tarique Rahman, alias Tarique Zia, are currently fugitives,” she said.
The prime minister was responding to a question from Awami League lawmaker Farida Yasmin (Women Seat-35) during the question-answer session.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury tabled the question-answer session at the beginning of the day’s sitting of Parliament, which started around 4pm.
The premier said a total of 49 accused were sentenced in the trial of the grenade attack case, with the judge of Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal No-1 pronouncing judgement on October 10, 2018.
“Among the convicts, 19 were sentenced to death, while 19 others were condemned to life imprisonment and the remaining 11 to various jail terms,” she added.
She said Interpol has issued red notices against accused Maulana Tajuddin, Harris Chowdhury and Ratul Ahmed Babu alias Ratul Babu, who are absconding abroad. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the convicted fugitives.
Two cases — one under the Penal Code and another under the provisions of the Explosives Substances law – were lodged over the grenade attack on an anti-terrorism rally arranged by the Awami League in the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.
Sheikh Hasina, at the time leader of the opposition, survived the gruesome attack, which left 24 people dead and over 500 injured.
