DHAKA, August 21, 2021 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Almighty Allah might have saved her from the heinous grenade attack on August 21, 2004 to allow her to carry out welfare activities for the people of Bangladesh and that is why He has kept her alive.
The Premier expressed her feeling in an interview taken by her Speech Writer Md. Nazrul Islam marking the 17th anniversary of the gruesome August 21 grenade attack on a peace rally of the Awami League against terrorism.
The full interview was presented here.
Question: Hon’ble Prime Minister, on August 21, 2004, more than a dozen grenades were hurled at an anti-terrorist rally of Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue with the intention of assassinating you. Although you survived the attack, some 22 leaders of the party including Ivy Rahman were killed on that day. Around 500 people were injured. How do you feel when you look back?
Prime Minister: During the BNP-Jamaat alliance, sanctuaries of terrorism were created all over Bangladesh, a reign of terrorism was established. Bangla Bhai was created while terrorism, militancy, bomb attacks were going on all the time. And various incidents continued from October 2001 to 2006 during the tenure of BNP.
Grenade attack was carried out at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal® in Sylhet and 3/4 people were killed there. The then British High Commissioner was injured in the attack. Attacking and injuring a diplomat tarnished Bangladesh’s image abroad.
Regarding the attack, we’ve decided to hold an anti-terrorism rally. When we were going to organize the rally, we first asked for permission but the BNP government did not give us permission. We wanted to do it at the Muktanggan. When we completed the preparations to hold it in front of the Awami League office, the day before the event at around 11:30 pm, the government suddenly gave permission to do it again. But, our loudspeakers were installed, posters were printed and publicity of the rally was done already.
We went to the rally and delivered my speech. At the end of the speech, even though I could not leave the microphone, I heard the sound of the bomb. As soon as the sound of the bomb was heard, I was surrounded by our leaders and activists, especially Hanif Bhai, Mamun, Nazib and Maya were all there. Then everyone created a human shield and encircled me on top of the truck. One after another grenade was hurled … first three, then another three again … they dropped about a dozen grenades.
Honestly, I was thinking of so many people on the truck rather than thinking about myself. All our leaders and activists were around and I did not understand the situation at that time.
However, when the grenade attack stopped at one stage, the sprinters of the grenade which were supposed to hit me but those hit the head of Hanif Bhai, the then Dhaka City Mayor, and his blood dripped on my clothes. Everyone thought that I was injured but nothing happened to me.
It’s a surprise to me that I didn’t have a single sprinter but I lost my glasses. Then, I rushed to get in my car where army officer Mahbub, my driver-cum-security, was waiting for me after opening the door. Just then a bullet was fired and Mahbub was shot dead there immediately. When I was leaving Bangabandhu Avenue, police started baton charge and fired tear gas, which I came to know later.
I never thought of facing death as I know death can come at any time. We were victims of a terrorist attack when we were holding an anti-terrorist rally. Usually, obstacles came from police such as they used to surround leaders and activists and prevent them from joining rallies.
Another thing was that the volunteers of our party who were used to taking position on the roof top before the rally but none were allowed by police to be on the rooftop that day. Actually the police did not allow our volunteers to take the security measures that our party used to do.
All I can say is that God may have saved my life as I have been the victim of such an attack several times earlier. Allah saved me to allow me to do welfare for the people of Bangladesh with my hands and that’s why he kept me alive.
