DHAKA,  – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) had carried out the series bomb blasts across the country on August 17, 2005 under the patronization of the then BNP-Jamaat government.

“BNP was involved in the series bombings. If they were not, why did they stay silent?” he told a discussion marking the series bomb blasts day at AL’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office here.

Dhaka city north and south units of AL jointly arranged the discussion.

Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said August 15, 1975 carnage, August 21, 2004 grenade attacks and August 17, 2005 series bombings are the part of a common conspiracy and BNP is the mastermind of all of those.

He said all these incidents have proved that BNP is the reliable shelter to politics of communalism and conspiracy in the country.

The then BNP government had extended support to those who carried out the series bombings, he said.

The minister said on that day in 2005, the communal evil forces had carried out the bomb blasts in 63 districts out of 64 simultaneously to create unrest in the country.

Why BNP remained silent when series bombings were launched across the country, he questioned and said that they (BNP) remained silent as they were definitely involved with the incident.

Quader said there is no scope to deny that BNP was involved in all those incidents and even BNP was the mastermind of August 15 carnage.

He said the attackers of August 17 series bombings took preparations and managed manpower not in a single day. So, why BNP remained silent, he again questioned and said BNP was the patron of the incident.

They did that for clinging to power and to efface the spirit of Liberation War and free thinking, he said.

The AL general secretary said the state and the country’s independence were not safe with BNP.

Quader said August 17 bombings were the test of strength of extreme communal forces and they showed their strength by carrying out the blasts.

Through the bombings, the terrorist activities became visible and Bangla Bhai came in front, he said, adding that a part of Rajshahi was under his occupation and they brought out procession openly in Rajshahi city.

In continuation of the series bombings, many bomb blasts were carried out in the country, he said.

About BNP’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s allegation that AL’s has no courtesy and manners, Quader said: “Mirza Fakhrul made the comment as I said Begum Zia has six birth dates.”

“I want to know from him why a former prime minister has six birth dates. Earlier, she had five (dates) and I saw the latest one during her Covid-19 test. Fakhrul Saheb, what I did against courtesy and manners? You have created those birthdays. These are not staged or created by AL” he added.

Quader said BNP observed Khaleda Zia’s birthday this year too as they could not get rid of their mentality of vengeance and revenge.

“You didn’t cut cake but presented flowers which meant you observed birthday on August 15 on the martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. So, you should not teach us manners,” he said.

AL Presidium Member Dr Abdur Razzaque, Joint General Secretary Dr Dipu Moni, Dhaka City North AL President Bazlur Rahman, its General Secretary SM Mannan Kachi, Dhaka City South AL General Secretary Humayun Kabir, Dhaka City North AL Vice-President Jahanara Begum and Dhaka City South AL Vice-President Hedayetul Islam Swapan addressed the discussion, among others.

Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi chaired it.