THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID

“The grisly grenade attack was aimed at diverting the people's attention from the government's success that made them worried about their future."

Then prime minister Khaleda Zia said this on Sept 2, 2004 at BNP's founding anniversary programme, making an oblique reference to the AL as being responsible for the attack. But further probe later revealed the involvement of Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman in the attack plot.  Tarique has been indicted in the case as well.

“Only the enemies of the nation can launch such a barbaric attack."

Then president Iajuddin Ahmed said in a statement after the August 21 grisly grenade attack on an Awami League rally.

“The government has given utmost priority to uncovering the mystery of the August 21 grenade attack and identifying the perpetrators. The government, for the first time in the history of the country, has announced a bounty of Tk 1 crore for providing information about the perpetrators."

Then state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, now facing trial in connection with the grenade attack, said this in parliament on September 15, 2004 during a discussion on the attack.

“The confessional statement Joj Miah made during the BNP government was true. The supplementary charge sheets submitted recently are politically motivated.”

BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said this at a press briefing on August 21, 2011, protesting the supplementary charge sheet in the grenade attack case which revealed the involvement of Tarique Rahman and government machinery in the attack plot.

“This is a barbaric and unfortunate incident. Those who have done it … are not human beings … They are enemies of democracy, enemies of the country and enemies of the people.”

Then BNP secretary general and LGRD minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said this in a statement following the attack.

“The grenade attack was an attack on Bangladesh's sovereignty and independence, but the Awami League is unwilling to cooperate with the government in carrying out the investigation."

Then law minister Moudud Ahmed said this at a rally on August 30, 2004.

“They are experts in bombing. Why are they pointing the finger at the BNP?"

Then water resources minister Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said this in parliament on September 15, 2004.

“What Sheikh Hasina had wanted on August 21 was more dead bodies like that of Ivy Rahman so that she can create a photo gallery of dead bodies. Like she had not executed the verdict of her father's killing during her tenure, she once again wanted to do business with the procession of these dead bodies.”

Then state minister for youth and sports Fazlur Rahman Patal said this in parliament on September 15, 2004.

“The judicial inquiry commission is probing the August 21 grenade attack. Many more national and international probe agencies came to investigate. After all these, the government has nothing to do."

KM Obaidur Rahman, a member of the BNP standing committee, said this in parliament on September 15, 2004.

"They [AL] want to go to power by staging the bomb drama and by fooling the people. Their conspiracy has completely been foiled due to the competent leadership of the prime minister [Khaleda Zia]."

Then BNP lawmaker Shahidul Islam said this in parliament on September 15, 2004.

“The Awami League and Sheikh Hasina have benefited the most [from the grenade attack]. The wave of sympathy for Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League [following the attack] made her think that she had already gone to power."

Then BNP MP Mashiur Rahman said this in parliament on September 15, 2004.

“The BNP is being blamed for the grenade attack, as the [AL] government wants to protect the actual culprits."

BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said this at a discussion on August 21, 2011.

“The [AL] government is out to undermine the BNP by shifting the blame on to it for the August 21 grenade attack."

Nazrul Islam Khan, a standing committee member of the BNP,  said this on
August 25, 2012.

Compiled by Shakhawat Liton