President, PM Pay Tributes to August 21 Grenade Attack Victims

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Mohammed Shahabuddin paid heartfelt respect to the victims of the 2004 grenade assault on August 21.

On the night of the terrible grenade attack's 19th anniversary, they prayed for the martyrs' departed souls to experience eternal peace in separate messages.

The President stated in his message that on this day in 2004, 24 activists—including Ivy Rahman, the previous president of the Bangladesh Mahila Awami League—were killed in a heinous grenade assault on a Bangladesh Awami League (AL) demonstration in the city's Bangabandhu Avenue.

From the language movement of 1952 to the United Front's 1954 elections, the anti-military movement of 1958, the Six-Point movement of 1966, '69's Mass Uprising' and the elections of 1970 to the great War of Liberation of 1971, the streets were stained by the dictator's bullets, he added.

The first attack on democracy in independent Bangladesh came on August 15, 1975, he said, adding that on that day, the greatest architect of country's independence and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib and most of their family members had to die at the hands of anti-liberation assassins, he said.

On November 3, 1975, four national leaders were killed in jail, he added.

Even then, the conspiratorial murderous circle did not stop, said Shahabuddin, adding that they planned to kill Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, on August 21, 2004, during a public rally, though the most brutal grenade attack in history.

By God's mercy, leader Sheikh Hasina survived but 24 party leaders were martyred, he said, adding that more than 500 leaders and activists, including journalists and security personnel, were injured.

The head of the state said that the aim of the assassins was to make Bangladesh and Awami League leaderless, stop the democratic process and establish dictatorship and militancy in the country.

Inspired by the spirit of the great Liberation War, the president hoped that the democracy-loving people would cooperate with the government to build a happy-prosperous Bangladesh in the days to come.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the grenade attack on August 21, 2004 was carried out as a continuation of the conspiracy that started with the brutal killing of the greatest Bangalee ever as well as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975.

The gruesome killings of August 21 will be marked as a shameful chapter in the history of Bangladesh politics, the premier added.

Noting that the anti-liberation sectarian groups are still conspiring in various ways, she urged all to work together to resist any conspiracy of this evil power and make Bangladesh a safe and peaceful home for the next generation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said BNP-Jamaat alliance has always been trying to make Bangladesh a failed state by patronizing militants and terrorists.

This coalition came to power on October 1, 2001 through rigged elections and established a reign of terror across the country, the premier added.

By carrying out continuous bomb attacks and grenade attacks, they tried to turn this country into a militant state, she said, adding that in continuation of this, on August 21, 2004, a grenade attack was launched on the rally against terrorism and militancy of the then main opposition party, Bangladesh Awami League.

Such diabolical massacres at political rallies in broad daylight are rare in the history of the world, Sheikh Hasina continued.

It was the moral duty of the government to arrest and prosecute those involved in this heinous attack and murder, she said, adding that but the BNP-Jamaat coalition government instead took all measures to protect the killers, allowed attackers to flee abroad and destroyed all important evidence.

By abusing the state machinery, they staged 'Joj Miah drama' to divert this brutal murder, she mentioned.

Later, a fair and impartial investigation revealed that Hawa Bhaban and many masterminds of BNP-Jamaat alliance were directly involved in this attack, she said.

After 14 long years, in October 2018, the verdict on the 21 August grenade attack was delivered, she said, adding that the court sentenced 19 people including BNP leader and former state minister for home Abdus Salam Pintu, an ex-minister in the BNP-Jamaat administration, and Lutfozzaman Babar were executed for their roles in the grenade attack.

At the same time, 19 individuals, including BNP leader Abul Harish Chowdhury and interim chairman Tarique Rahman (a wanted felon), received life sentences, according to her.

The rule of law has been established in the nation, she said, noting that 11 accused have also received jail sentences of various lengths.

Source: BSS