Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that, ‘it is a proven truth that the dreadful grenade attack on Awami League rally was carried out at the patronization of BNP-Jamaat government. At that time Lutfuzzaman Babor was the State Minister of Home ministry but Khaleda Zia was in charge of the ministry. So the involvement of Khaleda Zia cannot be denied.’
On Wednesday (August 21) Prime Minister said these in a memorial meeting organized in connection with remembering the dead and wounded people in the grenade attack of August 21, 2004. The meeting was held at the Krishibid Institution auditorium of Khamarbari.
Sheikh Hasina said that, ‘the attack was done on behalf of the government of that period to annihilate Awami League and me. Next day the vans of City Corporation started cleaning up the area. Instantly I telephoned Jahangir Kabir Nanak saying that they are destroying the ‘alamats’(proof) of the case. So take measures to preserve the ‘alamats’(proof). Subsequently the leaders of Awami League rushed to the spot.’
‘To preserve the ‘alamats’ was the duty of the government but we had to preserve those because the government wanted to destroy it with the object of making the case weak. At the pressure of the public opinion a one man enquiry committee was formed with Justice Jainul Abedin but the report of that probe committee was dictated by the BNP-Jamaat government. Next an innocent man was brought to the forefront as the main conspirator of such terrible occurrence. The Joj Mia drama was staged. Next that Joj Mia was forced to make confessional statements about his involvement by carrying inhuman torture on him. But he was a simply common man how he would collect sophisticated weapon like grenade,’ she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that, ‘today it is true like day light that the dreadful grenade attack was carried out at the direct patronization of BNP- Jamaat alliance government. After filing case of the tragic and horrible incident we got a judgment. Now the death reference will go to higher court and we hope that we will get justice. But we will not get them back whom we lost in that dreadful afternoon.’
Sheikh Hasina said ‘If there is any accident or any unusual incident occurs it is the duty of the police to help the affected people. But immediate after the 21st August grenade attack the reverse incident happened. Police helped the attackers to go out safely. Even after the incident the pro-BNP doctors did not provide treatment to the injured persons at Dhaka Medical College. The pro-BNP doctors left the hospital. Next the injured party workers and leaders were arranged treatment abroad. Many are still surviving with the injury and pain received on that day.’