Bangladesh will observe the 18th anniversary of the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital with various programmes, reports UNB.
On this day in 2004, a grisly grenade attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally organised by the Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina was apparently the target. The BNP-Jamaat alliance government was in office at that time.
At least 24 people, including Awami League women affairs secretary and late President Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, were killed. Three hundred others were also injured. Hasina escaped with her life but suffered with hearing impairment.
Fourteen years later, a Dhaka court sentenced 19 people, including then BNP government’s state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, to death.
Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and the party's current acting chairman, and 18 others were also sentenced to life in prison.
Observing the day, Awami League and affiliated outfits have chalked out elaborate programmes across the country, maintaining health guidelines in wake of the COVID-19 situation.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
