DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday blamed the last BNP-led 4-party alliance government for the August 21 grisly grenade attack on her Awami League party rally she addressed in 2004.

“There is no doubt that the BNP government was behind the grenade attack,” she told a meeting at the same Bangabandhu Avenue venue where the deadly attack was launched and she had a close call this very day six years back.

The premier recalled the law enforcers’ role as “silent spectators” during the attack and drew the inference that it proved the then coalition government’s “link” with the attack,

"The fatal attack was conducted with their direct help to destroy Awami League," said the ruling Awami League chief, who was then in the opposition.

Sheikh Hasina asserted that “one day the attackers and their patrons would be brought to justice on the soil of the country”.  

Awami League general secretary and local government minister Syed Ashraful Islam, deputy leader of the House in Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Bangladesh Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haque Inu and Chief Whip Abdus Shahid were present on the commemorative occasion.

Earlier, the PM paid homage to the deceased placing wreaths at the temporary memorial plaque in front of the AL central office on Bangabandhu Avenue at 12:30pm.

A total of 24 people, including AL leader Ivy Rahman, wife of President Zillur Rahman, were killed and 500 others injured in a volley of grenade blasts at the Bangabandhu Avenue rally.

Sheikh Hasina survived the attack but had her ears damaged from the loud explosions. Besides, many of the injured still live with the curse of disability. The traumatic experience of the carnage even still haunts the party men and its chief.
 
BDST: 1600 HRS, AUGUST 19, 2010