BNP, Jamaat had direct links

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sixth anniversary of August 21 grenade attack talks to some of the victims on Bangabandhu Avenue -- the place of the bloodshed. Photo Courtesy: PMO

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has claimed that the previous BNP-Jamaat coalition government had direct links with the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.
No matter how powerful the culprits might be, they would be brought to justice, Hasina said at a rally on the Bangabandhu Avenue commemorating the sixth anniversary of the grenade attack.
"Certain activities of the then BNP-Jamaat coalition government point to the fact that they had direct links with the attack and there is no doubt about it," claimed Hasina.
"Investigation is going on. Those who killed so many innocent people must be tried and punished to put an end to the politics of killing in the country," she said.
Hasina, also president of Awami League, said the BNP-led four-party coalition government tried to protect the attackers by different means.
"What role did the intelligence agencies and police personnel play on the day of the grenade attack? Why they did not try to arrest any of the attackers, rather helped them escape the scene?" asked Hasina.
She said the law enforcers, who were on duty at the venue, did not come forward to the victims' aid after the attack. They rather beat up those who rushed to help the injured.
Hasina alleged that the previous BNP-Jamaat government neither investigated the incident nor allowed them to speak about the grenade attack in parliament.
"The grenade attack was carried out in a planned way under direct patronisation of the then ruling party. There is no doubt about it," claimed the prime minister.
"The BNP-Jamaat coalition government propagated that I kept the grenades in my vanity bag and blasted them in the rally."
Hasina said the grenades were hurled at the anti-terrorism rally to rob the party of its entire leadership.
"We do not want continuation of killings in politics. We do not want terrorism and criminal activities in Bangladesh. We want that the country is established as the most peaceful country in South Asia."
Hasina said she never cared for her life and would continue to work for the welfare of people.
"I want to ensure economic freedom of people and that is my main objective," said Hasina.
Hasina paid tribute to the victims of the grenade attack by placing a wreath at a temporary memorial on the Bangabandhu Avenue and observing one minute's silence. A special prayer was also offered.
Leaders of political parties and associated bodies of AL placed wreaths at the memorial.
Rashed Khan Menon, president of Workers Party of Bangladesh, Hasanul Haque Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Manzurul Ahsan Khan and Mujahidul Islam Selim of Communist Party of Bangladesh, and Chief Whip Abdus Shahid, among others, placed floral wreaths.
AL leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury, Syed Ashraful Islam, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Asaduzzaman Noor, Akhtaruzzaman, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim were also present.
AL observed a two-minute silence at its offices across the country at 5:22pm, when the first grenade exploded at the AL rally on August 21, 2004.
A discussion will be held today at 3:00pm at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre where the prime minister will be the chief guest.