Four years after August 2004 blasts :Investigations must focus on identifying masterminds

BACK in 2004, the nation was left reeling from shock when bomb blasts at an Awami League rally left as many as 22 people, including the veteran politician Ivy Rahman, dead and scores of others grievously injured. Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina sustained injuries that have required treatment.
Four years on, the questions that arose in the aftermath of the blasts have remained unanswered to a large extent. There are the hard facts that keep alive a collective sense of outrage regarding the public recollection of what happened on August 21, 2004. Evidence that could have helped identify the criminals behind the explosions was washed away within hours of the tragedy. The BNP-led four-party alliance government proved sadly unwilling to pursue meaningful investigations that could have yielded concrete results and indeed was seen to indulge in activities that detracted from the need for justice. In short, a clear attempt at a cover-up was made, to the embarrassment of an entire nation. Not even foreign investigators were able to break through the wall of non-cooperation put up by the alliance government.
In the past few months, under the caretaker government, some headway has been made in identifying the elements involved in the August 2004 blasts. Individuals taken into custody have confessed to being involved in the incident that was clearly the gravest attack not only on a political rally but also on the national conscience. While we agree that the government has advanced the investigations a very significant part of the way, we also feel it necessary, in the interest of justice, that such investigations be directed at identifying the masterminds behind the explosions.
With reports emerging of politicians of the then ruling coalition playing a role in the making of the tragedy, it is of critical importance that the depths be plumbed to ferret out the truth. It is inconceivable that only those who exploded the bombs were involved. Realities such as the destruction of unexploded grenades at the site of the blasts together with the discovery of similar grenades inside Dhaka central jail clearly point to the involvement of people on a bigger scale. It is the enormity of the crime that demands a more concrete and purposeful inquiry. Who stood to benefit from elimination of a major political leadership structure? Who pulled the strings from behind?

There are a few other issues that come with this need for a swift administration of justice in the August 21 outrage. A large number of those who survived the blasts but have nevertheless been reduced to paralysis or have gone about with grenade splinters in their bodies have remained ignored by the authorities. That is an untenable situation and the government must move quickly towards helping these unfortunate men and women. Adequate compensation as well as provision of medical assistance must be ensured for them.

Unless the entire tragic happening of August 2004 is dealt with by the law, to the satisfaction of the nation, we cannot ensure rule of law and democratic governance in this country.