Former state minister for home Lutfuzzaman Babar was shown arrested in August 21, 2004 grenade attack case. First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Ehsanul Haque passed the order following a petition submitted by the investigation officer of the case.

Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) Additional Superintendent of police Abdul Kahar Akond submitted the petition on Monday urging the court to show Babar arrested in the case and place him on a 10-day remand for interrogation. The court fixed October 28 for hearing on the remand prayer in presence of Babar and asked the jail authorities to produce him before it on that day.

Earlier on August 3, the speedy trial tribunal had ordered further probe into the cases following petitions filed by the prosecution seeking fresh investigation. Twenty-three people were killed and 300 others were injured in the grenade attack on an Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had earlier pressed charges against 22 people including Huji chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and former deputy minister and BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu.

Earlier on March 5 this year, a metropolitan magistrate's court in Dhaka sent him to jail after he surrendered and sought bail in an arms case in which he was earlier sentenced to 17 years' rigorous imprisonment. That was the second time Babar was sent to jail. He was, earlier, arrested on charge of corruption on May 28, 2007 and later released on a higher court bail. On October 30, 2007, Judge Jahed Mansur of the Special Tribunal-9 sentenced Babar to 17 years' rigorous imprisonment for possessing illegal arms and ammunition at his Gulshan residence in 2007.

The HC granted Babar a six-month bail on health grounds in the case on October 16 last following a pending appeal against the trial court verdict. However, the SC on October 23 revised the HC order and granted him bail for three months and directed him to surrender before the trial court within the time. After his arrest by the joint forces on May 28, 2007 from his residence he was shown arrested under the Emergency Power Rules and placed on a four-day remand for interrogation. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a graft case against Babar with Ramna Police Station on October 4 for taking Tk 21 crore in bribe to save Bashundhara Group chairman's son from murder charges. He was also accused of amassing huge wealth through illegal means and concealing wealth information from the ACC.

-Daily Star