Proper trial needed for grenade attack plotters: Hasina

Sheikh Hasina has said a proper trial of perpetrators of the grenade strike on her rally in 2004 would help end terrorism in the country,as she recalled the August 21 attack.

Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina has said a proper trial of perpetrators of the grenade strike on her rally in 2004 would help end terrorism in the country,as she recalled the August 21 attack,a week after a court ordered further probe into the incident.

Terming it a 8220;tainted day8221; in Bangladesh8217;s political history,Hasina recalled with grief the deaths of 24 people killed in the attack as investigations were still underway.

She said a proper trial of the perpetrators would help end terrorism in the country. A court last week ordered 8220;further probe8221; into the grisly attack to find the masterminds and sources of grenades used by the assailants.

8220;The aim of the grenade attack was to halt the pace of development,independence and democracy8230; to perpetuate the reign of killing,conspiracy,militancy,terrorism and corruption,8221; Hasina said in a statement to mark the anniversary of the attack,which she narrowly escaped.

Suspected Harkatul Jihad HuJI assailants had hurled 13 grenades on a rally killing 24 people,including Awami League leader Ivy Rahman and injuring some 400 others. Arrested suspects later confessed Hasina was their main target.

The attack left her with critical hearing impairment and she had to go for treatment aboard.

21 suspects,including HuJI chief Mufti Hannan and ex-deputy minister of the past BNP-led government Abdus Salam Pintu are now in prison to face the trial. Eight others are still on the run.

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Pintu8217;s absconding brother and HuJI leader Maulana Tazuddin had reportedly supplied the grenades while the ex-junior minister is suspected to have coordinated the plot.

Several foreign agencies like British Scotland Yard,FBI and Interpol had joined Bangladesh investigators but not much headway was made in the probe,as evidence including live grenades recovered from scene were destroyed.

A Dhaka court ordered further probe into the sources of the grenades as investigators said they were also looking into the role of senior police and other related security agency officials at the time as deliberate attempts were made to 8220;mislead8221; the case visibly to protect the assailants.

An investigation was earlier conducted under supervision of the now detained former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar at that time and 20 people including a vagabond,a student and an Awami League activist were arrested,None,however,were found guilty in subsequent investigations.

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8220;The then government tried its best to protect the killers although its moral responsibility was to arrest and try the culprits,8221; Hasina alleged in her statement yesterday.

Last week8217;s court order came as reports said India-based Asif Reza Commando Force ARCF,which works together with Pakistan8217;s Lashkar-e-Taiba LeT,supplied grenades to HuJI assailants for the August 21,2004 grenade attack.