Nine people were killed and over 50 injured in suicide bombing by JMB in front of Udichi office in the town on December 8 evening last year. The suicide bomber was also killed.

Different socio-cultural organisations held programmes recollecting the barbaric incident and demanding punishment of killers and rehabilitation of the victims.

Udichi Shilpi Gusty began the day by placing wreaths at the blast spot. Wearing black badges, its cultural activists then brought out a mourning procession in the town. Their programme also included a protest rally and a Ganasangeet (cultural event) in the evening on Shahid Minar premiss to create awareness against violence in the name religion.

The protest rally was presided over by Parimal Roy, convenor of Netrakona Tragedy Day Udjapon Committee (committee to celebrate Netrakona Tragedy Day). It was addressed by leaders of different political parties, socio-cultural organisations and cultural activists.

The speakers included Netrakona district Awami League president Shamsuzzoha, its general secretary Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru, Netrakona CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) secretary Khandaker Anisur Rahman, Udichi secretary Sanuar Hossain Bhuiyan and ATM Razzak, member-secretary of Netrakona Tragedy Day Udjapon Committee.

The speakers criticised the then BNP-led four-party alliance government, saying it protected militants who killed people including cultural activists and judges in the name of religion. But none of the assailants behind the Netrakona tragedy has been punished, they said.

They also criticised the role of the then state minister for home Lutfuzzaman Babor, allegeding that he tried to divert the case to save the militants.

They said most of the people injured in the blast are leading a miserable life but the government did little for them. Many are yet to get proper treatment.

Families of many victims are yet to get compensation from the government.

Two cases were filed after the incident. Police after investigation submitted charge sheet against five persons including JMB leader Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai and his wife Fahima Chawdhury. Both the cases were sent to Speedy Trial Tribunal in Dhaka.