PM accuses BNP-Jamaat govt of perpetrating Aug 21 attack

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused again the then BNP-Jamaat government of perpetrating the barbaric grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004, saying that such a heinous act cannot take place in the country without their patronage, reports BSS.

"The gruesome grenade attack was staged with the patronage of the then BNP-Jamaat government … without their help such an incident cannot take place," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while exchanging views with the leaders of the Hindu community on the occasion of the Janmashthami at her official Ganobhaban residence in the city on Tuesday afternoon.

The premier said the grisly grenade attack was carried out on the peaceful Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on August 21, 2004.

"We had arranged the rally for peace and in protest against terrorist activities of the militants across the country including an attack on the then British high commissioner at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) in Sylhet," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said in the world history, such a heinous act did not take place in broad daylight. "The grenades that are used in the battle field were hurled on the rally to eliminate the Awami League leaders," she said.

Sheikh Hasina pointed out that terrorism, militancy, drug abuse and smuggling of arms were regular phenomena in the country during the BNP-Jamaat misrule. Not only the August 21 grenade attack, numerous such incidents happened after the 2001 elections, she said.

She said the Awami League leaders and workers fell victims of the BNP-Jamaat killing and torture on one side, while the minority communities, especially the Hindu community, became victims on the other.

The Awami League president said attacks were also made on other communities like Muslims, Christians and the Buddhists as well as the mosques, temples, churches and pagodas, she said, adding such an anarchic situation continued throughout Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said the Awami League government after assuming office in 2009 made efforts so that peace exists in the country and the venom of terrorism, militancy and communalism cannot spread.

"We want to build Bangladesh in the non-communal spirit and the people of all faiths perform their religious rites freely and peacefully," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said all the citizens of the country will live here with equal rights. "You, the people of Hindu community, will live here with your own rights …this soil is yours also," she said.

She said that in every sphere of life, the people of the country will enjoy their equal rights. "In socioeconomic sector, in education, in healthcare and in performing respective religious rituals all have the equal rights," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said it is her responsibility to ensure equal rights for all people of the country on behalf of the government.