Awami League Marks 21 Years Since Deadly 2004 Grenade Attack In Dhaka

Bangladesh’s Awami League on Thursday observed the 21st anniversary of the grenade attack on its anti-terrorism rally at Bangabandhu Avenue, describing it as a ‘horrific and disgraceful’ chapter in the nation’s political history.

During the 2004 attack, multiple military-grade grenades, hurled at the rally, killing 24 party leaders and activists and leaving more than 500 people permanently disabled.

The Awami League said the assault, which took place on 21 August 2004, was carried out under the direct patronage of the then BNP–Jamaat-e-Islami coalition government.

The party alleged the attack aimed to assassinate Awami League President and then Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina, and to undermine Bangladesh’s independence, democracy, and the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War.

It further claimed that the grenades and other evidence showed involvement of Pakistan and its local agents.

The party in its statement stated, “With the joint efforts of defeated forces of 1971, both domestic and foreign, there was an attempt to annihilate the pro-Liberation forces led by Awami League, to turn Bangladesh into a militant, failed state in line with Pakistani ideology, and to crush the democratic aspirations of the people. But by the infinite grace of Almighty Creator, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina narrowly survived that day, keeping alive the flame of our hope.”

Criticism of Interim Government

Criticising the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, the Awami League noted that, “The illegal usurper, killer-fascist Yunus clique is also now steering Bangladesh in the same Pakistani ideological direction as the embodiment of those extremist communal militant forces.”

The party recalled that justice delivered in 2018 after 14 years, when a Bangladeshi court sentenced 19 people to death, gave life terms to 19 others, including BNP leader Tarique Rahman, and handed various prison sentences to 11 police and army officials.

However, the Awami League alleged that after Yunus assumed power ‘unconstitutionally’, a High Court bench, under his direction, acquitted those convicted.

The party asserted, “This will remain as another disgrace in the history of the nation, and just as heinous as the grenade attack itself was the shameful acquittal.”

Reaffirming its commitment to democracy, justice, and human rights, the Awami League paid tribute to those killed, offered condolences to the injured, and urged citizens to resist ‘extremist communal militants’ and their allies in BNP, Jamaat, and Yunus to restore democracy in Bangladesh.

Also Read: Awami League Criticises Interim Government For Blocking Bangabandhu’s 50th Death Anniversary Observance