Shawdesh Desk:

A case has been filed against former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on charges of instigating August 21 grenade attack on Awami League (AL) rally in 2004 that killed 24 people.

AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League platform, filed the case with Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court on Thursday morning.

The hearing will be held around 11:30 am at the court of Dhaka Metropolitan magistrate  Satyabrato Shikder.

AB Siddique confirmed it to Daily sun.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Lawmaker Sheikh Salim, sheikh Helal and Mahabub Abdulla made witnesses in the case.

According to the case, Khaleda Zia was Mastermind behind the August 21 grenade attack on AL rally in 2004.

At least 24 people were killed and around 300 injured when grenades were lobbed on an Awami League rally in the capital’s Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.

Incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader in parliament, narrowly escaped the attack with an ear injury.

A Dhaka court on October 10, 2018 awarded capital punishment to 19 people, including former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu in two cases filed over the attack.

The court also awarded life term imprisonment to 19 people, including BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, BNP chief and former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s political secretary Harris Chowdhury and former BNP lawmaker Qazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad while 11 others were awarded jail terms of various duration.