DHAKA, Aug 21, 2018 (BSS) – Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed today accused Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman of perpetrating the gruesome grenade attack on an Awami League rally on August 21, 2004.
“The then prime minister Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and former state minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar planned for the grenade attack at Hawa Bhaban, the alternative power house of the then government,” he told a street rally in Bhola Sadar upazila.
“The main aim of the attack was to eliminate Awami League (AL) along with Bangabandhu’s daughter and party president Sheikh Hasina,” he added.
Among others, Sadar Upazila Chairman Mosharraf Hossain, Vice Chairman M Younus Hazi and Joint Secretary of the district Awami League Enamul Haque Arju spoke on the occasion.
Tofail said the AL leaders, including Sheikh Hasina, survived the attack by the grace of Allah. But, a total of 22 AL leaders and workers, including late President Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, were killed, he said.
The minister said BNP tried to cover up the incident, but the people of Bangladesh have come to know about the truth.