Opposition commemorates Aug 21 grenade attack martyrs

Dhaka, Aug 21 (UNI) The second anniversary of a massive grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) led rally was observed here yesterday.

Thousands of opposition party workers stood in silence for two minutes and lit candles to pay homage to the August 21 victims of the grenade carnage.

Nearly 10,000 mourners observed silence at 1722 hrs (Local Time) yesterday when the first grenade exploded at the rally leaving 24 people, including Awami League (AL) leader Ivy Rahman, dead and over 400 wounded on this day in 2004.

Wearing black badges and holding black flags, leaders and workers of Awami League led 14-party opposition combine, lit candles in the evening in front of Awami League central office and its adjacent areas commemorating the martyrs.

As the mourners stood in silence and lit candles to fight against the dark forces, the leaders demanded fresh and neutral inquiry into the heinous attack.

Addressing the mourners, AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu demanded international investigation into the attacks designed to kill off the leadership. He also alleged government's involement in the attack.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil alleged that the BNP-Jamaat alliance in a planned manner carried out the attack to kill Awami leader Sheikh Hasina and turn Bangladesh into a communal and pro-Pakistani State.

He alleged that the investigation was not conducted properly as the government itself had links with the carnage.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said the politics of killing started through the assassination of Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975 and the August 21 grenade attack in continuity with the August 15 tragedy.

''This killer government will not investigate the grenade attack as it has link with the bloody occurrence,'' he said, adding that the investigation and trial would be held after establishment of a non-communal Bangladesh.

JSD President Hasanul Huq Inu alleged that the government had launched the attacks to kill Sheikh Hasina and perpetrate its rule forever. He alleged that the government was patronising the criminals involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, 18 US Congressmen reportedly sent a letter to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and sought fresh and neutral investigation to nab the real perpetrators.

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