Bangladesh will hang 19 years for deadly attack at 2004 rally


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The scene of the 2004 attack, pic file

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More than 20 people have died and hundreds have been wounded in the attack

A Bangladesh court sentenced 19 people to death for taking part in a deadly grenade attack at a 2004 political rally in Dhaka, the capital.

Among those to be suspended are a former minister and deputy minister, both leaders of the ruling BNP party.

Taric Rehman, the current interim leader of the party, was sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia.

The grenade attack left 24 dead at the Awami league rally. Its leader, Sheikh Hasina, is now prime minister.

Hundreds of others were injured during the August 21, 2004 explosion as Sheikh Hasina was about to finish a speech in front of thousands of supporters.

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Sheikh Hasina has been Prime Minister since 2009

Lutfozzaman Babar, former Minister of Home Affairs, is the most prominent of those sentenced to death.

The BNP said the case was politically motivated and aimed to destroy the image of party leaders.

  • Bangladesh gets tired of competing with rivals

The mother of Tarique Rehman, the leader of the BNP, Khaleda Zia, has been a rival of Sheikh Hasina for decades. In February, she was sentenced to five years in prison for corruption.

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EPA

Legend

BNP leader Khaleda Zia jailed after being found guilty of bribery

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