10th anniversary of grenade attack observed

The nation observed the 10th anniversary of the heinous grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina, who was leader of the opposition then, on this day, reports BSS.

In 2004 during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat government an all-out grenade attack was carried out at an anti-terrorist meeting of Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue.

The current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and a number of Awami League leaders narrowly escaped the attack that claimed the lives of 24 others and maimed about four hundred people.

Among the injured was Ivy Rahman, wife of late President Zillur Rahman. She died three days after, on August 24, 2004.

The president of Awami league Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the first to place wreaths at the makeshift monument built on the spot of the occurrence. Later she joined other leaders of her party and the 14-party alliance in placing wreaths.

Afterwards a prayer was held for eternal peace of the departed souls. The prayer was led by Iliyas Hossain Bin Helali, president of Awami Ulema League.

After the prayers Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina spoke briefly to the assembled people. The meeting was presided over by deputy leader of the House and member of Awami league presidium, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury.

Later, the prime minister expressed sympathy with the martyred and the maimed.

She was accompanied, among others, by Awami League leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sen Gupta, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Ashraful Islam, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Mujibul Huq and Mahbubul Alam Hanif.

After the departure of the prime minister the security cordon was withdrawn and other organizations placed their wreaths at the temporary monument.

They included a team from the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal led by its president, Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu.