AL, its allied bodies pay homage to victims of August 21 grenade attack 

News Desk    |    ০৩:৫১ পিএম, ২০২২-০৮-২১

 The ruling party Awami League (AL), its associate bodies of AL, its left-leaning allies and other political parties today paid homage to the victims of the brutal grenade attack that killed 24 people and wounded nearly 500 others.

  Earlier, the day's programmes started with placing wreath at the memorial set up in front of AL's central office in the city's Bangabandhu Avenue to pay rich tributes to the memories of those who were killed in the attack.

  At first, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes by placing floral wreaths at the altar set up in memory of the martyrs of the grenade attack in front of the Awami League central office at Bangabandhu Avenue. The PM observed a moment of silence in memory of the martyrs.

  Later, the premier along with AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader paid tribute to the martyrs on behalf of Awami League.

  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also exchanged greetings with party leaders and those injured in the August 21st grenade attack and attended a short discussion meeting organized to protest the attack and commemorate the victims. Awami League Advisory Council Members- Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, AFM Baha Uddin Nashim, Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, Department Secretary Biplab Barua, Sub Department Secretary Sayem Khan and others were present at that time.

  Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) general secretary Shirin Akhtar, Dhaka Metropolitan 14 party co-ordinator and Awami League presidium member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram, Jatiya Party (JP) General Secretary Sheikh Sahidul Islam, General Secretary of the Ganatantri Party Dr Shahadat Hossain, Convener of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) Rezaur Rashid Khan and others also paid homage to the martyrs. 

  Also, under the leadership of Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) paid rich tribute to the victims of the grenade attack.

   Then the injured persons and the families of the victims of the heinous attack, Awami League Dhaka Metropolitan South and North, Krishak League, Sramik League, Chhatra League, Tati League, Women Awami League, Awami Matsyajibi League, Jubo League Metropolitan North and South, Swechhasebak League Dhaka Metropolitan North and South, Dhaka District Awami League, Bangabandhu Parishad, Dhaka District Swechhasebak League, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jot, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Mayor Mohammad Hanif Memorial Foundation, Muktijoddha Projanma League, Bangabandhu Research Council, Hawkers League and other organizations paid their respects with flowers at the altar.

  A gruesome grenade attack was carried out at an anti-terror rally of Awami League (AL) on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on August 21, 2004 aiming to bankrupt the party leadership during the BNP-Jamaat alliance government.

  With 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.

  But, 24 people including the then Women Affairs Secretary of Awami League and wife of late President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman, were killed and over 500 others injured in the attack and many of them became crippled for life.

  In their memory, the day is observed every year through various programmes. This year marks the 18th anniversary of the grenade attack.