An army officer yesterday told a speedy tribunal trying the August 21 grenade attack case that four ‘Arges’ hand grenades, which were recovered and later defused by the authorities in 2004, could be preserved for future.
The 101st prosecution witness, Major Abul Mafur Ashraful Kabir, also said the four olive-coloured explosives were ‘Arges’ grenades.
Shahed Nuruddin, judge of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 1, recorded the statement and adjourned the trial proceedings till September 8.
The prosecution witness, who was ammunition technical officer, said the army-led technical committee had recovered four unexploded ‘Arges’ grenades — three from Bangabandhu Avenue and one from Dhaka Central Jail area.
Of the four, two were defused at Suhrawardy Udyan and two others were taken to Dhaka Cantonment where those were displayed and later defused technically, according to the prosecution.
The prosecution brought charges against the then police officials for destroying evidences.
The prosecution witness said the technical committee later had submitted to the government the report on the explosives and grenades used in the deadly attack on August 21.
Major Shamsuddin Chowdhury, a member of the technical committee who was demoted to the rank of captain in 2005 and later sent on retirement in 2010, had submitted the report.
Major Abul Mafur denied the allegation brought by defence counsel TM Akbar that the officer (Maruf) had not mentioned in their report that the grenades could be preserved.
Chief Prosecutor Syed Rejaur Rahman said the prosecution witnesses had not mentioned the source of origin of the grenades.
The attack on an Awami League rally allegedly carried out by the extremist group left 24 party leaders killed and injured scores.
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister, escaped the attack, but the explosions caused her hearing damage.
A number of BNP leaders and some militancy suspects are facing the trial.
The court yesterday summoned then army signal unit official Rafiqul Islam to give deposition in the cases.
It also summoned Jamal Ahmed, known as Joj Miah, who was arrested in the case, but later his name was dropped amid huge criticism, his mother Jobeda Khatun, sister Khorsheda Begum and brother Babul Hossain to give depositions.
Joj Miah, who was arrested on June 10, 2005 from Sattola Bosti, a slum at Mohakhali, made confessional statement before a magistrate court on June 25, 2004 in the August 21 grenade attack cases.
