High Court today granted bail to ex-Inspectors General of Police (IGP) Shahudul Haque and Asharaful Huda for six months in August 21 grenade attack case.

The High Court bench of Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty granted them bail after admitting their appeals against lower court verdicts.

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'State-backed crime' punished

There is no legal bar for Shahudul and Ashraful to get release from jail following the bail order, their lawyer Advocate Md Arshadur Rauf told The Daily Star.

A special court in Dhaka had sentenced the two former IGPs on October 10 of last year. The court also ordered them to serve six months in jail in case of failing to pay.

WHAT HAPPENED ON AUGUST 21, 2004?

At least 24 people were killed and around 300 injured in the grisly attack on an Awami League rally in the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader in parliament, narrowly escaped the attack with an ear injury.

Following the incident, two cases were filed against 49 people with Motijheel Police Station, one for murder and another under the Explosive Substances Act.