Rejoinder, our reply
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has protested some information in The Daily Star's October 26 report headlined 'Aug 21 attack on Hasina, AL rally/It was Hawa Bhaban Plot'.
In a rejoinder, it disputed that one of its top leaders attended the Hawa Bhaban meeting where the plot to kill Sheikh Hasina was finalised.
The party also refuted that 15 Jamaat men took part in the grenade attack at the AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.
"Presence of a high-level leader of Jamaat-e-Islami in the said meeting at Hawa Bhaban and taking part of 15 Jamaat men in the attack on Awami League rally is totally false, baseless and confusing,” read the rejoinder.
Ali Ahmad, head of Jamaat's publicity wing, said their ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami in a statement immediately after the blasts had condemned the attack and called for arrest of the people involved.
The rejoinder said Jamaat still demands a fair and neutral investigation and exemplary punishment to those responsible for the grisly attack.
Our reply
While our story mentioned presence of a high-level Jamaat leader at the Hawa Bhaban meeting, it did not say Jamaat-e-Islami as a party was involved in firming up the conspiracy there.
For the report, The Daily Star talked to many law enforcement officials engaged in the August 21 probe. It also spoke to some sources in Harkat ul Jihad Al Islami, the banned outfit whose 21 leaders are charge-sheeted accused in the grenade blast case. All confirm suspected involvement of the high-level leader and some individuals.
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