The defence for Huji leader Moulana Abu Sayeed yesterday sought acquittal for his client from all charges in the cases filed over August 21 grenade attack.
Advocate Mohammad Ali argued for over three hours and cited contradictions between the confessional statements given by Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan with those of prosecution witnesses.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka heard the arguments and later adjourned the hearing till today. Mohammad Ali will place the submissions on behalf of his client again today.
Yesterday the lawyer said his client was falsely implicated in the cases adding that an accused can not be convicted basing on confessions of a co-accused.
Earlier defence lawyers for 17 others including former BNP lawmaker Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad and Mohammad Hanif, owner of Hanif Paribahan, concluded their closing arguments in the cases.
Twenty-four leaders and activists of the AL and its associate bodies were killed and over 300 others suffered splinter injuries in the August 21 attack. Ivy Rahman, the then Mohila AL president and also the wife of late president Zillur Rahman, was among the deceased.
Of the 49 accused, eight, including three former inspector generals of police, are now on bail while 18, including BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman are absconding.
Twenty-three accused, including former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar and ex-deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu are now behind bars, were produced before the court yesterday.
