Recalling the gruesome attack, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said then prime minister Khaleda Zia staged the August 21, 2004 grenade attack as carrying out killings is their habit.

The premier said it while addressing a discussion marking the 16th anniversary of August 21, 2004 grenade attack on Friday. 

Awami League organised the event at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office on Friday morning. 

The prime minister attended the event through videoconferencing from her official residence Ganabhaban.

“Returning to power, Khaleda Zia staged the grenade attack. Those who’re involved in the conspiracy of August 21 grenade attack during interrogation later mentioned that Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman was also involved in that conspiracy,” she said.

She said it was not possible to carry out an attack like that of August 21, 2004 had there been no direct patronage from the then BNP-Jamaat government.

The prime minister also said, alongside the attack in here, attempts were made by BNP men to kidnap and kill her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in America. 

Sheikh Hasina said: “They (BNP, Jamaat alliance) did not take a break (after carrying out the grisly attack here on August 21). The also planned to kidnap and kill my son Joy in America.”

“However, they got caught by the FBI. After the investigation and trial, BNP man found guilty and got convicted for it,” she said.

BNP men, in cooperation with Tarique Zia, planned the whole thing and we would not have been known about it if FBI could not find out the plot, Sheikh Hasina said.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech at the discussion, while party’s
Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap moderated it. Other central leaders of the party were present on the dais at the party office.

At the outset of the meeting, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack and the martyrs of the August 15 carnage.

Twenty-four people including the then Women Affairs Secretary of Awami League and wife of late President Zillur Rahman were killed and over 500
others injured and many of them became crippled for life in the August 21 attack.

By the grace of the Almighty, the then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other front ranking AL leaders narrowly
escaped the carnage.

BDST: 1340 HRS, AUG 21, 2020
AP