The 14th anniversary of the gruesome August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally will be observed in a sombre mood today (Tuesday), report agencies.
Awami League and its associate bodies will observe the day across the country through various programmes including rallies, discussions and special prayers, doa and milad mahfil.
On this day in 2004, the grisly grenade attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally arranged by Awami League at Banbabandhu Avenue in the city during the rule of BNP- Jamaat alliance government.
The main target of the heinous attack was current Prime Minister and then opposition leader and daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Hasina.
At least 24 leaders and activists, including Awami League women affairs secretary and late president Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman, were killed and 300 others injured in the grenade attack.
However, Sheikh Hasina fortunately escaped the attack unhurt but her hearing was affected badly.
At least 13 grenades were thrown from the rooftops of a nearby building soon after Sheikh Hasina had finished her speech at the rally.
Menwhile, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid on Monday rich tributes to the victims of August 21 grenade attack in 2004 and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs.
In separate messages on the eve of the 14th anniversary of the heinous grenade attack, they urged all to work unitedly to turn the sorrows of August 21 into strength by building a peaceful and democratic Bangladesh which will be free from terrorism and militancy.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid terming the heinous grenade attack as another "black chapter" in the country's political history.
In a separate message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government wants to end killing, terrorism and militancy in the country by bringing the attackers, masterminds and plotters of the grenade attack of August 21 under trial.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
