Barbaric Grenade Attack of 21st August is an article by Dr.Md. Fazlur Rahman and it is the author’s own opinion and point of view. This has nothing to do with the editorial policy or the opinion of the editorial body of Eurobangla Times.
6th episode
Dr. Md. Fazlur Rahman: (76) It is to be notable here that at the time of afore mentioned extremely violent occurrence, Sheikh Hasina was not only the leader of the opposition in the parliament andex-officio in the rank of a full-fledged minister, but also a victim of the attack. So her direct and specific allegations cannot be taken lightly or just as a political rhetoric. Hasina’s allegations are visibly substantiated by the evidence and testimonies of the one of the most daring accused Mufti Hannan as well as the number of crucial witnesses of these two cases including the then Director General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) chief Mr. Sadik Hasan Rumi.
(77) In regarding the above cited terrible attack and investigation Mr. Rumi has stated in his deposition in chief before the tribunal that- “I understood the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia knew everything beforehand. So, I have left her office not lingering the conversation.” He also conspicuously said that- “He was denied permission to investigate the brutal attack.” He added that- “Khaleda Zia appeared annoyed and virtually rebuked him as he tried to talk to her on the issue.” Mr. Rumi also added that Khaleda Zia asked him that- “From where you gathered the ridiculous information? What is your headache if Tajuddin (a key attack plotter) goes to Pakistan or anywhere else?”
(78) Mr. Rumi has recalled that Begum Khaleda Zia was telling him that as he tried to confirm a report that the PM herself had ordered safe passage abroad of Moulana Tajuddin. As a result he was capable to understand that, the perpetrators of the attack targeting the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina were protected under higher political authority’s directives. Mr. Rumi also added thathe was asked not to catch the culprits. He further added that-“There was no dearth of efforts on my part to unearth the plot. But I was repeatedly obstructed.”He also told that he was denied twice by Khaleda Zia when he asked to investigate the August 21 attack.
(79) At the time of cross examination on 11th November 2012 the former DGFI chief Mr. Sadik Hasan Rumi has told before the court again that,“… he has met the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia a day after the August 21 grenade blast at an Awami League rally in 2004. He also stated that he had sought the then Prime Minister’s permission to probe the deadly blasts but no avail. In this respect all of his attempts and efforts have gone in vain.”
(80) It is observed from the findings and observations of the above stated 2 (two) separate judgments of the learned tribunal that, number of fundamentalist militants, some high-profile senior officials of the different intelligence agencies of the state and some unscrupulous and highly ambitious leaders of the ruling party BNP have jointly and unitedly committed the above discussed furious grenade attack in a pre-planned way. It is also a matter of fact that, after that infernal occurrence one of the desperate militant Moulana Tajuddin (brother of the then deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu) has made a fake passport with the help of the government machinery. Later on he has fled away to abroad. Therefore it is crystal clear that,if the then government was not directly involved in that attack, was it possible for a terrorist militant to make a fake passport and flee abroad within 7 (seven) days of that extremely violent attack?
(81) It is really very much disgraceful that after the bloody offence of fierce grenade attack Begum Khaleda Zia has remarked in the parliament with ridicule that- “Who would want to kill her?” And also reportedly said that- “Sheikh Hasina carried the grenades to the venue of the meeting in her own vanity bag.” She has also very rigorously asserted in the parliament that, “the grenade attack of 21st August, 2004 is the output of the internal conflict of Awami League.”So anyone can raise the question that did she (Khaleda Zia) act like a Prime Minister by making such types of foul, objectionable and highly irresponsible comments?
(82) It is very much pertinent and relevant to disclose here that, Begum Khaleda Zia has categorically and very boldly expressed that, “Awami League will never come to power in the next 100 (one hundred) years.” In another public meeting she has also very strongly narrated that, “the post of Prime Minister is very far away, Sheikh Hasina will not be able to become the leader of the opposition in future.” So anyone can ask the question that, how and from where Begum Khaleda Zia has acquired such type of self confidence or over confidence to make the above stated objectionable and irresponsible comments? Henceforth, it is presumed that having been encouraged and inspired by the above quoted number of unforeseeing comments of Khaleda Zia, the killers have tried their best to eliminate Sheikh Hasina by any means.
(83) It is also unbelievable and unthinkable that immediately following the grenade explosions the police on duty there helped the attackers to flee by firing tear gas shells and charging baton on the Awami League supporters and workers who had been rescuing the injured. It is also painful and mortifying that in the immediate aftermath of such a beastly attack any basic forensic sense would dictate that the crime scene be cordoned off for collection of samples and evidences. But without doing so the entire scene and symptomswere washed with water and detergent to destroy all types of alamats and evidences. Even the recovered grenades were not preserved but rather destroyed.
(84) It is a matter of fact that after the grisly grenade attack the then BNP-Jamaat government had formed a one man judicial commission headed by the then sitting Justice Mr. Joynal Abedin to prove the entire occurrence and incident. But the tragedy is that he has hopelessly and miserably failed to apply his judicial mind, mentality and temperament at the time of conducting the investigation. It is very much disheartening and disappointing that, being a sitting judge of the honourable High Court, Mr. Justice Joynal Abedin has very shockingly failed to maintain neutrality and impartiality at the time of conducting and preparing his investigating report. As a result, Mr. Justice has done and performed an unscrupulous joke and mockery in the name of investigation.
(85) Hence after Mr. Joynal Abedin has submitted a 162 pages misleading and misinterpreting report after concluding his investigation. It is a matter of regret that, the versions and averments, which have been discussed by the then treasury bench members in the parliament, Mr. Justice has tried his best to incorporate the same in his above stated capricious and fallacious report. By the side of this, in his report he has indicated that, “A powerful foreign intelligence agency had a hand in the incident”. It is very surprising that, two years later of submitting that erroneous and fraudulent report the same Justice Mr. Joynal Abedin was elevated to the honourable Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Therefore it carries the reason to presume that as a means of rewarding him for his aforesaid deceitful and unscrupulous report he had been promoted in that post.
(86) It is also extremely painful that one of the foul and highly objectionable tactics have been adopted by the then BNP-Jamaat government to derail and to frustrate the entire justice by implicatingthe innocent people in the case. For instance one Joj Miah was falsely implicated in the case. Another such victim was Shoybal Saha Partho, who still suffers Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of indescribable and inhuman torture applied to obtain forced and tutored confessional statement from him by way of threat, inducement and intimidation.
(87) It is a matter of regret that, after the terrible occurrence of the violent grenade attack, the government and the government supporters all the newspapers have also tried their best to divert and to frustrate the entire investigation in a different path by publishing various types of misleading reports and misinterpreting news items. Side by side the number of well reputed journalists and columnists of those newspapers as well as pro BNP all the intellectuals have also very eagerly and sincerely tried heart and soul to turn out the investigation of that attack [B.Commentary Report:Emon nrishongsho ghotona ar chai na (We do not want such type of cruel occurrence any more), Matiur Rahman, Prothom Alo, 21-08-2019)]. They have also tried to hide out the involvement and the responsibility of the government about that diabolic attack. Their aforesaid heartiest efforts and endeavours are adjudged as very much painful and shameful.
(88) Henceforth realising and verifying the above discussed all the factual effects, events and circumstances anyone can raise the most important question that- who had cooked-up the story of Joj Miah and Partho? Why did the number of senior officials of the law enforcing agencies and all the intelligence branches have done such type of deceitful and fallacious game? Was it beyond the knowledge of Khaleda Zia? Or was it at the instruction of Khaleda Zia? The countrymen have every right to know the real fact and true answer of these questions.
(89) It is evident that some top ranking officials of police and intelligence agencies have intentionally and wilfully destroyed the symptoms (alamot) and evidences of the bloody massacre of August 21, 2004 grenade attack. Besides this they have tried their best to divertand destroy the entire mode as well as the nature and character of the investigation. By the side of this, under the guidance and instruction of the superior authority the concerned investigating officer has very cautiously and eagerly tried to frustrate the keynote of neutral investigation of the above stated heinous and devilish incident.But the question is that why did they do so and under whose instructions?
(90) This is why in view of the above noted all the facts and circumstances the burning question is that, who has instructed them to save or to assist the killers? Admittedly Tarique Rahman was not their official boss at that time. So it was the authority of Begum Khaleda Zia, the then Prime Minister as well as in charge of the ministry of Home Affairs to give them guidelines and instructions. If Tarique was not involved and if Khaleda Zia had tried to save the culprits how can she be thought to be innocent? Is it not very vital and important to get the exact answer of this question about the barbaric grenade attack?
Dr. Md. Fazlur Rahman,Senior District and Sessions Judge (Retired),Writer and Columnist
