Tardy trial frustrates victims

Relatives of victims and survivors of the 21 August grenade attacks yesterday expressed ire and frustration over the fact that the trial has not been finished, even though 11 years have passed since the terrible incident. However, as some victims pointed out, they do want a speedy trial, but in accordance with the due process of the law—so that no one can raise any questions about the trial. Recalling the horrific memories, Nasima Ferdous, a parliamentarian and president of the Dhaka City Mohila Awami League, said, “I was present along with the women leaders of different units of Dhaka City Mohila League. I was standing beside the then Mohila AL president, Ivy Rahman. The speech of AL president Sheikh Hasina was about to be completed, she was going to chant the slogan ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’ to end the meeting, when I heard a terrible noise." “Injured in the attack, I was still trying to inquire about the fate of our supreme leader, Sheikh Hasina. Then, another grenade exploded near me. I saw my dress was torn, my legs were bleeding profusely, and some parts of my legs and fingers of the legs had been torn out from my body, even though I managed to get them together again,” she said. “I saw the bodies and seriously injured leaders and activists all around me. After a few minutes, I discovered I was on the truck loaded with dead bodies. Some people must have put me on the truck, thinking I was dead. I cried out, making all of them start in surprise,” she recalled.
Regarding the treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital immediately after the incident, the lawmaker said: “Doctors were planning to amputate my legs to save my life after amputating the legs of Ivy Rahman. But on receiving the information, my son requested the doctors not to cut off my legs. I was later taken to the Combined Military Hospital in the city, but they did not allow me there. My family members, in association with party leaders, tried to admit me to different hospitals. But they refused to admit me, on seeing my deteriorating condition. On hearing the news, the AL chief sent me to Apollo Hospital in India for better treatment, along with other senior leaders.”
“After treatment spanning four years, I started to walk with the help of a stick, but there are still several grenade splinters in my leg. Even six months ago, I had to undergo an operation on my leg in India.”
About the trial process, Nasima Ferdous said, “I definitely demand the speediest possible trial of the attack, but at the same time, Sheikh Hasina wants that the trial should end in a normal way, to preclude any questions.”
Shamima Akter, wife of the badly injured Azizur Rahman Bacchu, information and research secretary of Dhaka City Unit of AL, said, “Eleven years have already passed, but the trial is yet to be completed.”
“My husband is seriously ill now, he can’t talk loudly. But as the anniversary approaches, he becomes more frustrated over the delayed trial,” she said.
“I want to die after seeing exemplary punishment being meted out to the attackers,” the housewife quoted her husband as saying.
Shohela Parveen Ranu, central member of the Bangladesh Mohila Awami League, said, “When the anniversary arrives, the memories make me tense and anxious. Even when I attend any programme at Bangabandhu Avenue, I really feel afraid that such an attack would be repeated on us,” she added.
Regarding the trial process, Shohela Parveen said, “We become very frustrated as the authorities are yet to bring back the 19 absconding accused, including the main culprit Tarique Rahman, the son of Begum Khaleda Zia.”
Advocate Umme Razia Kajol MP, who still has around 300 splinters in her body, including some 50 splinters on her hip, said, “I still suffer pain as a result of the barbaric attack. I am a little frustrated, too, due to the delayed process of the trial, but I am not totally hopeless. I have confidence in Sheikh Hasina.”
“My pain will significantly decrease if and when the killers are hanged,” the survivor added, overcome with emotion.
The grenade attack on an AL rally on August 21, 2004, had killed 24 leaders and workers of the party, including Ivy Rahman, wife of the late president, Zillur Rahman, and injured 300 others, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was the Opposition leader then.
The attack was said to be the outcome of a collaboration between the banned Islamist outfit Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji), influential leaders of the BNP and Jamaat, and some officials of the home ministry, police, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Tardy trial frustrates victims

Relatives of victims and survivors of the 21 August grenade attacks yesterday expressed ire and frustration over the fact that the trial has not been finished, even though 11 years have passed since the terrible incident. However, as some victims pointed out, they do want a speedy trial, but in accordance with the due process of the lawso that no one can raise any questions about the trial. Recalling the horrific memories, Nasima Ferdous, a parliamentarian and president of the Dhaka City Mohila Awami League, said, I was present along with the women leaders of different units of Dhaka City Mohila League. I was standing beside the then Mohila AL president, Ivy Rahman. The speech of AL president Sheikh Hasina was about to be completed, she was going to chant the slogan Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu to end the meeting, when I heard a terrible noise. Injured in the attack, I was still trying to inquire about the fate of our supreme leader, Sheikh Hasina. Then, another grenade exploded near me. I saw my dress was torn, my legs were bleeding profusely, and some parts of my legs and fingers of the legs had been torn out from my body, even though I managed to get them together again, she said. I saw the bodies and seriously injured leaders and activists all around me. After a few minutes, I discovered I was on the truck loaded with dead bodies. Some people must have put me on the truck, thinking I was dead. I cried out, making all of them start in surprise, she recalled. Regarding the treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital immediately after the incident, the lawmaker said: Doctors were planning to amputate my legs to save my life after amputating the legs of Ivy Rahman. But on receiving the information, my son requested the doctors not to cut off my legs. I was later taken to the Combined Military Hospital in the city, but they did not allow me there. My family members, in association with party leaders, tried to admit me to different hospitals. But they refused to admit me, on seeing my deteriorating condition. On hearing the news, the AL chief sent me to Apollo Hospital in India for better treatment, along with other senior leaders. After treatment spanning four years, I started to walk with the help of a stick, but there are still several grenade splinters in my leg. Even six months ago, I had to undergo an operation on my leg in India. About the trial process, Nasima Ferdous said, I definitely demand the speediest possible trial of the attack, but at the same time, Sheikh Hasina wants that the trial should end in a normal way, to preclude any questions. Shamima Akter, wife of the badly injured Azizur Rahman Bacchu, information and research secretary of Dhaka City Unit of AL, said, Eleven years have already passed, but the trial is yet to be completed. My husband is seriously ill now, he cant talk loudly. But as the anniversary approaches, he becomes more frustrated over the delayed trial, she said. I want to die after seeing exemplary punishment being meted out to the attackers, the housewife quoted her husband as saying. Shohela Parveen Ranu, central member of the Bangladesh Mohila Awami League, said, When the anniversary arrives, the memories make me tense and anxious. Even when I attend any programme at Bangabandhu Avenue, I really feel afraid that such an attack would be repeated on us, she added. Regarding the trial process, Shohela Parveen said, We become very frustrated as the authorities are yet to bring back the 19 absconding accused, including the main culprit Tarique Rahman, the son of Begum Khaleda Zia. Advocate Umme Razia Kajol MP, who still has around 300 splinters in her body, including some 50 splinters on her hip, said, I still suffer pain as a result of the barbaric attack. I am a little frustrated, too, due to the delayed process of the trial, but I am not totally hopeless. I have confidence in Sheikh Hasina. My pain will significantly decrease if and when the killers are hanged, the survivor added, overcome with emotion. The grenade attack on an AL rally on August 21, 2004, had killed 24 leaders and workers of the party, including Ivy Rahman, wife of the late president, Zillur Rahman, and injured 300 others, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was the Opposition leader then. The attack was said to be the outcome of a collaboration between the banned Islamist outfit Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji), influential leaders of the BNP and Jamaat, and some officials of the home ministry, police, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Prime Ministers Office (PMO).