Thousands march streets to remember Aug 21
Thousands of people yesterday marched through the streets in the capital and elsewhere in the country, mourning those who died in the August 21 grenade attacks.
On the stroke of 5:22 in the afternoon, demonstrators carrying black flags and banners began marching in procession from the Central Shaheed Minar premises.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Braving the elements, people proceeded to Bangabandhu Avenue where the bloodbath took place at 5:22pm exactly a year ago, leaving 23 dead and over 400 injured.
At least a dozen grenades were hurled on the rally of Sheikh Hasina apparently in an attempt to kill the leader of the opposition.
Many of the marchers carried banners that read 'Khaleda-Nizami are the perpetrators of all bomb blasts' and 'We want independent international probe into the August 21 blasts'.
Senior leaders of AL, left 11-party alliance, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu) and National Awami Party (NAP) led the procession in the capital.
Many people who were injured in the blasts took part in the protest procession, which ended on the Bangabandhu Avenue with the participants swearing an oath to resist 'violence against the people under the BNP-Jamaat alliance rule'.
Rasheda Akhter Ruma, an injured in the August 21 carnage, attended the programme in a wheelchair. "I am here again to protest the criminal acts of the present government," she said, adding, "I will at least find some solace if the perpetrators are brought to justice."
As the procession reached Bangabandhu Avenue, the opposition leaders and workers raised their hands and took the oath to 'oust the ruling coalition, bring in a pro-people government, and try the persons responsible for all the blast incidents including the August 21 grenade attacks'.
AL leader Tofail Ahmed administered the oath, as candles in the hands of people lighted the area.
Prior to the procession, opposition leaders addressed a gathering of about 10 thousand people at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Tight security measures were taken around the Shaheed Minar premises. Police were checking the vehicles, including rickshaws, on the adjacent roads.
Opposition leaders and workers began to gather at the venue since 4:00pm from different parts of the capital. They came in small processions, chanting anti-government slogans.
Speaking at the rally, opposition leaders accused the ruling alliance of being involved in all explosions across the country and urged people to join the opposition movement to oust the 'despotic alliance government'.
AL Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu presided over the rally.
Senior AL leaders Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Abdul Jalil, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu, Workers Party Secretary Bimal Biswas,Gono Forum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya, AL leaders Kazi Zafrullah, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, among others, participated in the procession.
Meanwhile, special prayers were offered at the houses of those killed in the August 21 grenade attacks.
AL and its left allies brought out similar processions from shaheed minars in different districts at 5:22pm.
Our Bogra correspondent reports: A scheduled meeting of Awami Jubo League at Sonatala in Bogra to commemorate the August 21 could not be held as local police imposed Section 144 in the area.
Police imposed the section after local unit of ruling BNP's youth front Jubo Dal had announced to hold a rally at the same venue at the same time.
Our Mymensingh correspondent reports: Mymensingh Awami League (AL) and its front organisations formed a human chain on Ganginar Paar Road to mark the first anniversary of the August 21 grenade attacks.
Later, a procession was brought out that paraded the main roads of the town.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) formed a separate human chain at Feroz-Jahangir Square yesterday afternoon.
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