Fifth anniversary of grisly grenade attack on AL rally observed

The nation Friday observed the fifth anniversary of the grisly grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka demanding exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of the carnage that had left 24 people dead.
Thousands of mourners thronged the Bangabandhu Avenue, the scene of the attack, in the afternoon and paid rich tributes to the memory of the victims by placing wreaths at a makeshift memorial set up in front of the AL central office.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who also survived the attack on August 21 in 2004, first placed wreaths at the memorial at 5.20 pm.
Members of the AL central working committee, advisory council, parliament members, leaders of other political parties and presidents and general secretaries of AL associate organizations were present on the occasion.
Workers Party led by its President Rashed Khan Menon, MP, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal led by its President Hasanul Haque Inu, MP, and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) led by its General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim placed wreaths at the memorial.
Two minutes’ silence was observed and a munajat offered on Bangabandhu Avenue at 5.22 pm seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs.
Hundreds of passersby as well as passengers, who got stuck in buses and other vehicles on Bangabandhu Avenue and its adjoining areas, also joined the munajat conducted by Maulana Khalilur Rahman.
Awami League arranged a discussion at the Institution of Engineers in the city at 5.30 pm.
A milad mahfil was held at Bangabhaban Jame Mosque after Juma prayers in memory of the victims of the August 21 grenade attack.
A special prayer was offered after the milad mahfil seeking eternal peace of the departed souls and early recovery of the wounded in the attack.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the occasion.
In his message, President Zillur Rahman termed the day as a day of stigma and said that the forces against independence and democracy carried out the heinous grenade attack on the AL rally on this day.
“The murderers had tried to kill the daughter of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Hasina, as well as the ideals of Bangabandhu and to confine the progress of the democracy and spirit of the Liberation War,” he said.
The President strongly condemned the barbaric killings and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of the August 21 victims.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said August 21 is a black day in the political history of Bangladesh.
“On this day, the barbaric grenade attacks were carried out on a peaceful AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in broad daylight to kill me,” she said.
The Prime Minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of all martyrs and conveyed deep sympathy to the injured.
-Photo: Focus Bangla

Courtesy of BSS, Dhaka