'Khaleda Zia, her party not jolted by Aug 21 grenade attack'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today accused again the then BNP-Jamaat government of perpetrating the barbaric grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004, saying that though this grisly attack jolted world conscience, the conscience of the BNP leader or her party was not stirred in this incident.

"We were not allowed to utter a single word or discuss the matter in parliament. Even we were barred from bringing any motion in Jatiya Sangsad to condemn the attack. So it's clear who were involved in this incident and there is no need to prove it by showing finger on the eyes," she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina, who narrowly escaped the gruesome grenade attack, referred to some remarks of Khaleda Zia and her party leaders and her son Tarique Zia staying in his father-in-law's residence on Dhanmondi road No. 5 in the capital before the grisly grenade attack. 

"Begum Zia had said that I would never be the Prime Minister or even the leader of the opposition in future, while her elder son stayed at his father-in-law's residence in Dhanmondi for 8/10 months consecutively," she said, posing a question if Tarique Zia lived in Dhanmondi to hatch conspiracy against her. 

"It seemed from the comments of the BNP leader and her party men that they wanted to remove me from this world," she said.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a rally after placing wreaths at a makeshift memorial of martyrs of the gruesome grenade attack on August 21, 2004 on Bangabandhu Avenue here this afternoon. 

The memorial was set up by Bangladesh Awami League in front of its Bangabandhu Avenue central office where the militants lobbed 13 grenades on a peaceful rally of the party on this day in 2004.

Twenty-four leaders and workers of AL, its associate bodies including the then Mohila AL president Ivy Rahman, wife of late President Zillur Rahman, were killed and over 500 others suffered splinter injuries in the attack and many of them became crippled for life.

Though Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaped the attack, she lost her hearing ability due to the impact of the repeated grenade blasts near the truck-dais of the huge public rally.

The premier first placed a floral wreath at the memorial and then another, flanked by leaders of Awami League, as president of the party. 

Cabinet members, PM's advisors, senior leaders of Awami League and 14-party combine and family members of the martyrs and those injured in the incident were present. 

A munajat was also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls. After her address, Sheikh Hasina met relatives of the victims of the grenade attack.

Holding the BNP government responsible for destroying the evidence of the grenade attack, Sheikh Hasina said the attackers left the scene under the cover of the law enforcement agencies and they destroyed the unexploded grenades and helped the grenade suppliers to leave the country.

"There were no activities of the policemen on that day, even our volunteers were barred from going to the rooftops of any surrounding buildings and none was allowed to create a security blanket," she said and asked as to why the BNP-Jamaat government didn't give such a permission. 

Sheikh Hasina said any efforts were not seen to rescue the injured on Bangabandhu Avenue. Instead, the policemen lobbed teargas and resorted to baton charge to disperse those AL leaders and workers who came forward to the help of the injured, she said, adding the law enforcers also didn't allow any vehicles to the scene.

"Why did the policemen resort to lathi charge and fired tear gas in this way? The aim of this was to allow attackers to flee without any hindrance," she said.

The prime minister called upon the countrymen including party leaders and workers to mobilize public opinion against terrorism and militancy.

"There won't be any room for those who nurture terrorism and militancy and those who kill people by hurling grenades and we'll have to be united and vocal against such culprits," she said.

Urging the people to stay alert against the repeat of the August 21 gruesome grenade attack, Sheikh Hasina said the terrorists and militants could not bring any welfare for the country except ill-being.

"They must be resisted to prevent recurrence of the grenade attacks," she said. 

Sheikh Hasina said Awami League arranged the rally in front of the party office on August 21, 2004 for peace and in protest against terrorist activities of the militants across the country including an attack on the then British High Commissioner at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet. 

Recalling the terrific scene of grenade attack, the Prime Minister, who was the leader of the opposition in parliament at the time, said: "The grisly attack was launched when I kept the hand microphone on the table after finishing my speech saying Joy Bangla," she said.

She said the killers swooped on us committing such a crime in broad daylight which the people of the country never saw before. "The killers tossed 13 grenades one after another and it seemed to me that doom's day appeared," she said. 

Sheikh Hasina said the grenades were supposed to drop inside the truck. "But what was my luck that the grenades fell beside the truck after hitting its side plate," she said, adding the Awami League has become a victim of terror while going to stage an anti-terrorism rally. 

Reiterating her steadfast commitment against terrorism and militancy, the premier said: "Our stance against these social menaces is very clear ... we would never allow any sorts of terrorism and militancy." 

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is moving smoothly on all sides, some local and foreign elements who opposed the country's independence and wanted to sell its resources to others are hatching various conspiracies.

The premier said her government has implemented various programmes to root out militancy and terrorism. "But various incidents were staged due to the patronage of those local and foreign elements.

Sheikh Hasina said militancy and terrorism are not only a problem for Bangladesh, it's now a global phenomenon. "None is safe in any country ... a Bangladeshi Imam of a mosque was killed in New York," she said.

The premier said the conspirators are always active on the soil of Bangladesh. "But the people of the country, where the Father of the Nation was killed, will have to be united realizing the depth of the plots. 

Sheikh Hasina said she is afraid of death and never bows to anybody except Allah. "I offer "sijdah" to only Allah and bow to the Almighty, nothing else ... I am the daughter of the Father of the Nation. I won't die before death," she said.

Source: BSS