BNP government sponsored August 21 attack, Khaleda knew everything: PM

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina Saturday reiterated that the August 21, 2004 grenade attack was carried out under the patronage of BNP government and then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia knew everything about the attack well before.

“None could even imagine such attempt was made to kill (me and front ranking leaders of the AL) by charging RJS grenades in broad-day light,” she told a virtual discussion marking the 17th anniversary of the gruesome August 21 grenade attack on a peace rally of the AL against terrorism.

Mentioning that it was impossible to conduct such heinous attacks without state patronage, the Prime Minister said aftermath incidents of the then BNP government such as destroying all evidences, including unexploded grenades, helping killers flee the scene and even the country, and staging Joj Miah drama, have cleared the state sponsorship

Referring to Khaleda Zia’s remarks that she (Sheikh Hasina) would never be the prime minister or even the leader of the opposition in future few days before the attack, she said Khaleda Zia knew everything well before the attack.

In this connection, the Premier said Khaleda Zia also made such remarks before planting bombs at Kotalipara that the AL will not be able to go to power in 100 years.

She questioned how Khaleda Zia made such a forecast, saying, “If you follow her comments, these plots will come out”.

Bangladesh Awami League (AL) arranged the virtual discussion at its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here this morning on the anniversary of the gruesome attack on AL’s anti-terrorism rally in the capital on August 21, 2004.

The Prime Minister joined the discussion through a videoconference from her official Ganabhaban residence.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, MP, delivered the introductory speech at the discussion.

AL Presidium Member, former minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, MP, Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP, Central Working Committee Member Dr Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, Organising Secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Dhaka North and South City AL Presidents Sheikh Bazlur Rahman and Abu Ahmed Mannafi respectively, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Publicity and Publication Secretary of the AL Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, moderated the discussion.

At the outset of the meeting, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack and the martyrs of the August 15 carnage.

Twenty two people including the then Women Affairs Secretary of AL and wife of late President Zillur Rahman were killed and over 1000 others injured and many of them became crippled for life in the attack.

By the grace of the Almighty Allah, the then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other front ranking AL leaders narrowly escaped the carnage.