BNP member Abdus Salam Pintu out of jail after 17 years

DHAKA: BNP vice-chairman and former minister Abdus Salam Pintu, who allegedly aided a Pakistan-based terrorist group in carrying out attacks against India, was released from Bangladesh's Kashimpur Central Jail on Tuesday in a case related to the 2004 grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina's rally. He had spent nearly 17 years in jail.

Pintu, a former deputy minister, was arrested in connection with the grenade attack on the Awami League rally, which killed 24 people and injured over 300. The attack is regarded as one of the most heinous political crimes in Bangladesh's history. On Oct 10, 2018, a trial court sentenced Pintu and 18 others to death in the case.

His release from jail follows an acquittal order from the HC.

Besides facing allegations of aiding the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) to carry out terror attacks in India, Abdus is also accused of funding terrorists from PoK and Bangladesh. However, there was no official confirmation on reports that Abdus had aided the HuJI and funded terror groups.