'BNP home minister Lutfozzaman Babar perhaps involved in August 21 grenade attack'

BANGLADESH NEWS

SM Mizanur Rahman, a former acting commissioner of DMP, on Monday said former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and several others were perhaps involved in the August 21 grenade attack.

The former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) acting commissioner testified about the grenade attack before Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1.

On the very day of grenade attack, Babar hurriedly directed army experts to destroy two live grenades that had been recovered from the place of occurrence, Mizanur said.

The former state home minister's initiative proved that he tried to destroy evidences, Mizanur, the 63 number prosecution witness told the court.

In his two-hour-long statement, Mizanur said Babar did not take any initiatives for deployment of sufficient law enforcement agencies to ensure security to the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina on Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21 in 2004.

When Mizanur attempted to take action against Obaidur Rahman, the then deputy commission (east) of DMP, and other authorities concerned, in connection with the grenade attack, Babar and the then IGP Shahidul Haque prevented him from doing this, he told the court.

After the incident as per his official procedure, Mizanur requested Babar and the IGP to visit the spot. But they discouraged him saying 'do not cross your limit'.

Mizanur also told the court that he took an initiative so that the injured victims could file cases against the criminals responsible for the grenade attack, but Babar here also prevented him.

Babar rather directed police to file cases in connection with the attack.

Mizanur will be cross-examined on August 12.