Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today held BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia responsible for the much talked about August 21 grenade attack that left at least 24 people dead in 2004.

“Before the August 21, the then prime minister Khaleda Zia in a statement said that Sheikh Hasina will not even be the leader of the opposition, not to speak of prime minister. Her (Khaleda) speech is a clear evidence that she was involved with the attack,” Hasina said.

The premier came up with the allegation while addressing a rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka this afternoon commemorating those who were killed in the grenade attack on August 21, 2004.

Also blaming Khaleda Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman for the attack, the prime minister said Tarique had hatched a conspiracy to make the killing mission a success.

“Without staying at his cantonment residence, Tarique used to live at his father-in-law’s house near my Dhanmondi residence for at least five months before the August 21. Why he had lived there? He felt comfortable to hatch August 21 grenade attack conspiracy staying there,” Hasina said.

Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, criticised the role of the then police security saying they had charged batons and fired tear gas so that the attackers could leave the spot safely.

Without carrying out proper investigation, the then BNP government staged Joj Mia drama to save the killer, Hasina said.

Upholding her commitment to build a prosperous and peaceful country, the premier said, “We don’t want militancy and terrorism. Our aim is to improve the country’s socio-economic condition.”