DHAKA: Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury accused the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia of directing the August 21 grenade attack in 2004 in a bid to destroy Awami League and its leaders.

“Tarique Rahman conducted the grisly attack at the dictate of Khaleda Zia under government protection,” Matia told a discussion meeting Monday in an unsparing attack on the ex-PM and her son.

Bangabandhu Shishu Academy organized the discussion marking the National Mourning Day at the Parliament Members’ Club with Chief Whip Vice-Principal Abdus Shahid in the chair.

Matia blamed BNP and Khaleda Zia for introducing what she said ‘grenade politics’ in the country.

“If they could kill Sheikh Hasina on August 21, the day would become the birthday of Tarique Rahman as her mother celebrates her birthday on August 15,” she said.  

The minister further said, “The assassination of Bangabandhu was not the crazy work by some disgruntled army-men, it was a ‘planned’ assassination with Ziaur Rahman’s support.”

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, whip ASM Firoz and MA Rauf Chowdhury also spoke.

BDST: 2041 HRS, AUG 23, 2010.