The defence lawyer for Huji leader Abu Sayeed alias Dr Zafar yesterday started his closing arguments in cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.
During the yesterday's arguments, lawyer Mohammad Ali read out the statements of 104 out of 225 prosecution witnesses (PWs) and cited contradictions in their statements.
Later, Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka set up adjacent to Dhaka Central Jail, adjourned the hearing till today when the defence counsel will resume his arguments.
In his arguments, Ali said police filed a case with Motijheel Police Station on the following day of the attack, but his client Sayeed's name was not there.
The lawyer said his client was arrested in his Uttara residence on September 2, 2006 and he was confined to an unknown place since September 13. Later, his client was remanded in a case filed with Sylhet Police Station and interrogated in TFI cell since October 5.
Later on October 23, 2007, his client was placed on a 10-day remand in the August 21 grenade attack cases and forced him to give a confessional statement on November 2.
Meanwhile, defence lawyers for 17 other accused including former BNP lawmaker Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad also completed their closing arguments and sought acquittal of their clients of the charges.
Twenty-four leaders and activists of the AL and its associate bodies were killed and over 300 others injured in the attack. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then opposition leader, narrowly survived.
Of the 49 accused, eight are now on bail while 18, including BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, absconding. Twenty-three accused, including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and ex-deputy minister for education Abdus Salam Pintu, are in jail.
