Dhaka, July 17 -- The Supreme Court has begun hearing appeals challenging the acquittal of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar, and others in two cases related to the 2004 August 21 grenade attack.

A full bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, commenced the proceedings this morning. Defence counsel SM Shahjahan began placing arguments before the court.

Also present in the courtroom were defence lawyers AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Kayser Kamal, and Mohammad Shishir Manir, alongside Additional Attorney Generals Md Arshadur Rauf and Aneek R Haque.

The apex court had fixed today's date for the hearing following a decision taken on Tuesday.

Earlier, on June 2, the Appell...