August 21 Grenade Attacks
Probe by FBI, Scotland Yard, Interpol was eyewash
Say experts
Advocate Umme Razia Kajal, a survivor of the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally seven years ago, stands in silence at a makeshift memorial set up in front of the party office in the city's Bangabandhu Avenue yesterday in memory of 24 people killed in the blasts including Ivy Rahman, wife of President Zillur Rahman. Photo: STAR
The investigation into the August 21 grenade attacks of 2004 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Scotland Yard and the Interpol was merely an eyewash, experts said yesterday. They said the then BNP-Jamaat alliance government did not provide necessary assistance and logistic supports to find out the real culprits. Talking to BSS, they said the investigation soon after the grenade attacks on an Awami League rally that left 24 people dead and about 300 injured, was politicised keeping the masterminds and main perpetrators away from the scene. The experts called upon the arch-rival political parties -- Awami League and BNP -- to refrain from playing 'blame game' in this regard. "During the BNP-led four-party alliance, the real picture was not presented regarding the grenade attacks," said Brigadier General (Retd) Shahedul Anam Khan. He termed the then investigation as eyewash to save the masterminds of the grisly grenade attacks. The then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sustained injuries to her ear in the attacks. The dead included the then Mahila AL leader and wife of President Zillur Rahman, Ivy Rahman. Referring to Joj Miah and some other arrestees, he said, "It seemed to me a drama which had been staged by the then government through Joj Miah. "The investigation was diverted towards a wrong direction in many ways. Political interference, which is usual in Bangladesh, was behind it," he observed. About the visit of FBI, Scotland Yard and Interpol members to Bangladesh for assisting the then enquiry committee, Anam said, "The foreign investigators were kept in the dark from the real clues." Prof Imtiaz Ahmed questioned the investigation into the August 21 grenade attacks during the four- party government, saying due to widespread politicisation, the facts could not be unveiled. "The government, historically, had full control over intelligence agencies keeping an adverse effect on the investigation," he said. The present government should publish a white paper and let the people know the real perpetrators of the August 21 grenade attacks, serial bombings in 63 districts on August 17, the attack on the then British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in Sylhet on May 21, 2004 and the attack on former finance minister SAMS Kibria in Habiganj on January 27, 2005. He urged the political parties to refrain from playing 'blame-game' with such heinous grenade attacks on a peaceful anti-terrorism rally in the city's Bangabandhu Avenue. Former Adviser and Inspector General of Police (IGP) ASM Shahjahan also questioned the investigation into the grenade attacks during the BNP regime in 2004 but he did not want to make any comment on the matter. "As the trial process of the case is going on, I cannot say anything now," he said, adding that many years have passed with the investigation and it should end now. Meanwhile, the case docket of the August 21, 2004 grenade attacks, implicating some 30 people, was sent to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, after completing all legal processes, for starting the trial. Metropolitan Magistrate Keshob Roy Chowdhury sent the docket of the case to the sessions judge's court after completion of necessary examinations to start its trial. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) charged Tarique Rahman, elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and 29 others with the attacks and submitted supplementary charge sheets to the court after conducting fresh investigation into the matter.
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