AL observing 10th anniv of Aug 21 grenade attack

Awami League (AL) and its associate bodies are observing the 10th anniversary of the grenade attack on an AL rally in front of its office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city that killed 60 people and injured 1,000. The attack also left AL leaders and activists, including AL women affairs secretary Ivy Rahman, wife of late President Zillur Rahman, killed with party chief Sheikh Hasina, now Prime Minister, narrowly escaping. The day is being observed as ‘Grenade Attack Day’ through elaborate programmes including discussions. On August 21 in 2004, at least 15 grenades were thrown from the rooftop of a nearby building soon after Sheikh Hasina, then opposition leader, finished her speech at the AL rally. The Prime Minister and Awami League President, Sheikh Hasina, along with the top party leaders, will place wreaths at the temporarily set up altar in front of the party headquarters at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue around 4:00pm. Sheikh Hasina will attend a ‘Doa Mahfil’ and also meet the family members of those who were killed in the grenade attack on the spot. The Prime Minister will also take part in a discussion there. AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam in a statement has urged the leaders of all districts, metropolitan cities, upazilas, municipalities, unions and ward units across the country to observe the day in a befitting manner, according to a news agency.