The grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina, the then Opposition Leader of the Bangladesh Parliament, at Bangabandhu Avenue on 21 August 2004 was one of the most dreadful terrorist acts in the world, when at least 13 highly powerful grenades were thrown from the rooftops of nearby buildings. This was an attempt to assassinate Sheikh Hasina by exploding grenades at an Awami League anti-terrorism rally. The attack was carried out immediately after the public speech of Sheikh Hasina in a large crowd from the back of a truck. Sheikh Hasina was seriously injured in the attack. It damaged her hearing. She survived by the bless of Almighty Allah, but 24 Awami League activists and leaders were brutally killed and over 300 injured in the that attack. The departed included Ivy Rahman, late president Zillur Rahman’s wife and Bangladesh Mohila Awami League president, and Mahbubur Rahman, bodyguard of the Awami League president. Grenade Attack on 21 August 2004
Sheikh Hasina, has survived at least 19 attempts on her life, the worst one was on
21 August 2004
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukdar
The grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina, the then Opposition Leader of the Bangladesh Parliament, at Bangabandhu Avenue on 21 August 2004 was one of the most dreadful terrorist acts in the world, when at least 13 highly powerful grenades were thrown from the rooftops of nearby buildings. This was an attempt to assassinate Sheikh Hasina by exploding grenades at an Awami League anti-terrorism rally. The attack was carried out immediately after the public speech of Sheikh Hasina in a large crowd from the back of a truck. Sheikh Hasina was seriously injured in the attack. It damaged her hearing. She survived by the bless of Almighty Allah, but 24 Awami League activists and leaders were brutally killed and over 300 injured in the that attack. The departed included Ivy Rahman, late president Zillur Rahmans wife and Bangladesh Mohila Awami League president, and Mahbubur Rahman, bodyguard of the Awami League president.
It was cropped up in a time when the Awami League and general people in Bangladesh were with a mourning mode following the tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in cenotaph of most disgraceful tragedy in the history, the cruelest assassination on August 15, 1975.Also at that time Awami League was protesting blasts against the partys workers in Sylhet with a deep grief.
The facts above lead to the questions about the responsibility of then incumbent government and why and how the same allowed substantial terrorism to run in the country. Series bombing attacks in public places also evolved at that time. Also the media reports and judicial procedure review supported in some way involvement of some responsible public office holders of the same and political office holders of the party was in power and its alliances. Furthermore, it seemed really odd when the Senior Vice President of that party accused the fact at a public meeting outside the country that victim Sheikh Hasina might notice the probability of such terrorism attack in advance. It looked like cruel propaganda. In case it became to some extent true that did not defer the responsibility of that incumbent government to protect the security of the opposition leader and activists and leaders of the opposition party. And if some kinds of involvement of that serving government and/or its alliance and/or the party get judicially proved, it would be really shocking and bad historic expression. On the other, it is really unexpected to see the fact that judicial process takes much longer time and complication of handling such an important case. It calls for a special attention to the Chief Justice, Attorney General and Law Minister of the state.
Finally, the government must facilitate a transparent process of investigation and support the court to run a free, fair and quick trial and judgment.
The writer is a columnist and political analyst, and hasauthored three books
