Bangladesh’s Supreme Court Appellate Division upheld the High Court’s acquittal of all 38 accused in the 21 August grenade attack case, including Tarique Rahman and Lutfuzzaman Babar. The unanimous decision, issued on 4 September 2025 under Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, followed a state appeal against the High Court verdict. The High Court had on 1 December 2024 annulled the trial court judgment and fully acquitted the convicted defendants.

The attack occurred 22 years earlier at an Awami League anti-terrorism and anti-violence rally outside its central office on বঙ্গবন্ধু Avenue in Dhaka. Thirteen to 14 explosions struck as then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina was stepping down from a truck stage. Ivy Rahman was among 24 people killed, while more than 100 leaders and activists were injured. Two cases were filed at Motijheel police station under murder and explosives laws.

The report says courts identified major procedural and evidentiary defects. A second supplementary charge sheet was submitted directly to a sessions court rather than a judicial magistrate court. The main confession was found to have been obtained through coercion and torture and later withdrawn. Prosecutors also failed to provide strong direct evidence, while the investigation changed hands repeatedly.