Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said BNP Chairperson [Khaleda Zia] and her son [Tarique Rahman] was involved with the grenade attack that tried to kill her on August 21, 2004.
Hasina, who is also the president of the ruling Awami League, made the remarks while addressing a discussion marking the 10th anniversary of grisly grenade attack in the capital.
She also noted that the then premier Khaleda Zia also did not allow the then opposition to talk about the attack and the injured in the parliament.
Saying that allies of the defeated forces of the liberation war were involved in killing Bangabandhu, she also mentioned that Major Rashid, one of Bangabandhu's killers, said in an interview that Major Zia was involved in the killing.
She also said people had been in peace and always found peace during the tenures of the Awami League.
The grenade attack was launched on August 21, 2004 as soon as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then opposition leader, had ended addressing a rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital. The party activists were supposed to bring out a procession. Although Hasina narrowly escaped death, at least 24 people including then Mohila Awami League chief Ivy Rahman – also wife of late president Zillur Rahman – were killed and over 300 others injured.
Two cases were filed in connection with the blasts – one under the Explosive Substances Act and the other for the murders.
According to the charge sheets, Hawa Bhaban, former political office of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, different militant organisations and the then administration had collaborated in planning and staging the grisly attack.