Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the victims of the August 21 grenade attack by placing wreaths at the memorial in front of the Awami League’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on Sunday morning.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader also placed a wreath at the memorial built in memory of the victims of the grenade attack.
The attack in 2004 at a rally of the then opposition party Awami League (AL) at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka had killed at least 24 people and left around 300 injured. AL chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had narrowly escaped the attack with an ear injury.
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On October 10, 2018, a Dhaka court awarded death sentences to 19 people and life imprisonment to 19 people in two cases. The next stage of legal proceedings is now waiting to be started by the High Court.
The convicts included influential political leaders of the then parties in power, militants of Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (Huji), former top officials of police, DGFI and NSI.
Tarique Rahman, the acting chairperson of BNP and son of then prime minister Khaleda Zia, was sentenced to life in prison. Tarique is now living abroad with his family while 15 other convicts are also absconding.
Four years have passed since the verdict was delivered to give justice to the victims and their families but the appeal hearing is yet to be started, leaving the execution of the judgment hanging.
