DUKE BAILSC summons 2nd charge-sheet

Dhaka, July 14 (bdnews24.com) ? The Supreme Court has called for the supplementary charge-sheet filed in the August 21 grenade attack case by July 21.

An eight-strong bench headed by chief justice Mohammad Muzammel Hossain on Thursday issued the order during the hearing on a government petition seeking cancellation of the bail of Saiful Islam Duke, an accused in the case.

The new charge-sheet was filed on July 3 against 30 more accused, including BNP chief Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman and nephew Duke. With the naming of new faces, the number of charge-sheeted accused in the case has reached 52.

Duke secured bail from the High Court on May 4 after he was shown arrested in the case. But as the state appealed against the order, the chamber judge put a stay order and sent the petition for hearing to the full bench.

Duke's lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain argued that his client could be granted bail as the charges against him before and after the supplementary charge-sheet was filed were same.

Attorney general Mahbubey Alam argued the bail could not be retained as he was named in the new charge-sheet. The bail was granted before the supplementary charge-sheet was submitted.

The grisly grenade attack on an Awami League meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on Aug 21, 2004 had left 24 people, including incumbent president Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman, dead and 73 injured.

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