ZCZC
BSS-25
AUGUST 21-OBSERVANCE
16th anniversary of August 21 grenade attack observed
DHAKA, Aug 21, 2020 (BSS) – Different political parties, including ruling Awami League, and other socio-cultural organisations today observed the 16th anniversary of the grisly grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) anti-terrorism rally in the capital on August 21, 2004 in a befitting manner.
The AL organized a virtual discussion at its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here this morning marking the 16th anniversary of the gruesome grenade attack.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina presided over the discussion through a videoconference from her official Ganabhaban residence.
AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech at the discussion, while party’s Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap moderated it.
AL Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Abdul Matin Khasru, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Information Minister and AL Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Central Working Committee Member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain and Advocate Afjal Hossain were present at the discussion, among others.
Earlier, the day’s programmes started with placing wreaths 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.
AL leaders, led by General Secretary Obaidul Quader, on behalf of the party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed a wreath at the memorial built in commemoration of the victims of the grenade attacks in 2004.
Placing the wreath, the leaders observed one-minute silence in respect to the memories of the grenade attack victims.
Then associate bodies of AL, its left-leaning allies and other political parties paid homage to the victims of the brutal grenade attack that killed 24 people and wounded nearly 500 others.
AL Presidium Members Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Abdul Matin ru,Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretaries Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, veteran leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque and Advocate Afzal Hossain, Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana and Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua were present on the occasion, among others.
Awami League-led 14-party alliance, Dhaka city south and north units of AL, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Jubo League, Chhatra League, Swechasebak League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Awami Matsajibi League, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Gobeshona Parishad and other political parties also paid homage to the August 21 grenade victims.
Besides, the Bangabandhu Gobeshona Parishad organized a discussion, milad and doa mahfil at its central office in the city’s Purana Paltan area this morning.
The gruesome grenade attack was carried out at an anti-terrorism 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.
BSS/SAH/KU/1930 HRS