Bangladesh
August 21 Grenade Attack What kind of democracy kills people in grenade attacks? PM Hasina asks
Dhaka, August 21: Remembering the August 21 Dhaka grenade attack, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked what kind of democracy uses grenades to kill people, during a meeting at the Awami League's central office on Bangabandhu Avenue on Saturday (August 21). The Prime Minister joined the video conference from Ganobhaban.
"Police charged batons and fired tear gas to protect the attackers. All the signs were washed away by using water brought by city corporation vehicles. A grenade remained unexploded, and an officer was threatened for speaking out. He was later tortured. This could not have happen without the cooperation of the government," she said.
"At 11:00 pm on the same day, Khaleda Zia [then Prime Minister] sent four people out of the country on a Singapore Airlines flight. Among them was Tajuddin. It is heard that Colonel Rashid and Dalim had came to Dhaka then. Khaleda Zia protected them. When they found out - I wasn't dead, they decided to leave the country. The people of the intelligence agency were also involved in this.
"The month of August comes with grief, pain and suffering. On 15th August, I lost everyone, including the father of the nation, my brothers and sisters. August 21, 2004 is our day of extreme pain and suffering. The BNP's atrocities started on October 1, 2001. They started torturing like the Pakistani aggressors," she added.
"Anwar Chowdhury, the UK High Commissioner to Bangladesh, was attacked. We protested that. We called an anti-terror rally. The meeting was supposed to be held in Muktangan, but was not allowed. They allowed us to hold it in front of the party office at midnight. That's when I doubted why they allowed so late at night. I never thought that people would be killed by grenade attacks in broad daylight," the Prime Minister said.
"I have been working for the people of this country since by following my father's footsteps. There have been repeated assassination attempts with grenades, bombs and bullets. By the grace of Allah, the leaders and workers have saved me," Hasina added.
Speaking about the BNP, the Prime Minister said, "They talk about disappearances and murders. Harris Chowdhury, Salauddin and others are missing. Later, they were found abroad. Either in India, London or America. In fact, they keep themselves hidden. This also happens in this country, unfortunately."
