The ruling Awami League has slammed the BNP for denouncing the verdict in the Aug 21 attack.
“The Aug 15 (Bangabandhu) assassination and Aug 21 attack are part of the same conspiracy. The Awami League was attacked during its anti-terrorism rally,” General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Thursday.
He came down hard on the BNP for describing the verdict as ‘dictated and politically motivated’.
On Wednesday (Oct 10), a Dhaka court sentenced former BNP ministers Lutfozzaman Babar and Abdus Salam Pintu and 17 others to death for their role in the 2004 attack.
BNP acting chief and Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman is among the 19 people sentenced to life in prison over the assault that left 24 dead and hundreds injured.
“You (the BNP) were in power then. How did the attackers escape? Twenty-four people died and now you say it’s a dictated verdict!” said Cabinet member Quader.
The then-prime minister Khaleda Zia cannot evade responsibility of the attack as she had kept the portfolio of the home ministry, according to the senior ruling party leader.