21st August Anniversary Observed

Sponsored by the then BNP-Jamaat government, the attack was carried out to eliminate the AL leadership. Luckily, Sheikh Hasina, now the Prime Minister, and other front ranking leaders were saved. However, 24 people including the then Mahila AL president Ivy Rahman, wife of late President of Bangladesh Zillur Rahman, were killed and over 500 others suffered major injuries in the attack. Some of the injured have been crippled for life.

To mark the day, AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flanked by her party leaders placed wreaths at the memorial of 23 Bangabandhu Avenue. Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, advisory council members Tofail Ahmed and Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, presidium members Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Sahara Khatun, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, AL joint secretaries Dr Dipu Moni and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Organising Secretary BM Mozammel Huq, Labour Aaffairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, Publicity Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Deputy Publicity Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil and central leaders Mirza Azam and Enamul Huq Shamim were present among others.

After placing wreaths, the premier took part in a special prayer seeking peace of the departed souls of the martyrs. Later in her speech, Sheikh Hasina called upon the people of the country to think whether BNP, a party which endorsed such a heinous attack, could bring any welfare to the state and its people.

Later, the Prime minister met the family members of the martyrs and of the injured of the grenade attack and distributed cheques among the martyrs' families.

After the premier’s departure, hundreds of leaders and activists of different political parties and socio-cultural and professional bodies placed wreaths at the memorial.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), Workers Party of Bangladesh, Samyabadi Dal, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Communist Kendra, National Awami Party (NAP-Muzaffar), Dhaka City Awami League, Awami Juba League, Juba Mahila League, Awami Swechchasebak League, Mahila Awami League, Krishak League, Jatiya Sramik League, Chhatra League, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Prokoushali Parishad, Rickshaw-van Sramik League and other organisations also placed wreaths at the memorial.

At the exact time of the attack at 5:22 pm, Awami Swechchasebak League staged a candle-lit vigil at the venue to pay homage to the martyrs of the 2004 mayhem.