Dhaka, Feb 17 (V7N) – The High Court has withdrawn the arrest warrant issued against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in the August 21 grenade attack case.

Following the High Court’s directive, Judge Rafiqul Islam of Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 issued a suo motu order on Monday (February 17) to withdraw the previous arrest warrant.

On December 1, the High Court acquitted all the accused in the August 21 grenade attack case, including:

Tarique Rahman, who was previously sentenced to life imprisonment

Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar, who was sentenced to death

In its ruling, the High Court declared the entire trial illegal, stating that:

The trial court's proceedings were not legally sustainable.

The charge sheet on which the case was based was not legally acceptable.

Special Public Prosecutor Abdur Rashid Molla confirmed that the High Court’s order led to the withdrawal of arrest warrants against several accused, including Tarique Rahman.

The State Party filed a petition to withdraw the warrants upon receiving the High Court’s decision.

On October 10, 2018, the trial court sentenced:

19 people to death, including Lutfuzzaman Babar and former Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu.

19 others to life imprisonment, including Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia's political secretary Haris Chowdhury, and BNP leader Kazi Shah Moazzem Hossain Kaikobad.

The trial court’s verdict and relevant documents reached the High Court's Death Reference Branch on November 27, 2018.

The August 21, 2004, grenade attack targeted an Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue, killing 24 people.

This landmark decision by the High Court is expected to have significant political and legal implications in Bangladesh.

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