Ex-premier's son indicted for 2004 grenade attack

Dhaka: The Speedy Trial Court yesterday indicted the fugitive son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and 29 others, including a former junior home minister, in connection with the 2004 grenade attack at a political rally that killed 24 people.

"Charges were framed as the allegations against them were proved primarily," Judge Shahed Nuruddin pronounced.

Prominent personalities

Aside from Tarique Rahman, prominent personalities such as former junior minister Lutfuzzaman Babar as well as several senior police and army officials will face trial that will start on March 28.

Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, narrowly escaped the attack that injured 200 party supporters.

Among those killed was Ivy Rahman, wife of President Zillur Rahman who was the party's women front chief.

The attack was allegedly carried out by the militant Harkatul Jihad Al Islami. Tarique Rahman, who was also the senior vice-president of his father's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was accused of masterminding the attack along with several party stalwarts and leaders of their fundamentalist ally, Jamaat-e-Islami.

Rahman as well as 29 of the defendants will be tried in absentia. They failed to appear before the court and are now considered as fugitives.

Rahman, who is believed to be in London, is also facing criminal and graft cases before the courts.