Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged the people of the country to get united and be vocal against the deadly menace of terrorism and militancy to steer the nation towards development and prosperity.

‘All of us will have to be vocal so that those who nurture terrorism and militancy, kill people through unleashing grenade attacks cannot make their place on Bangladesh soil. We'll have to resist them and thus maintain peace and ensure the security of people,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, was addressing a programme at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city marking the 12th anniversary of the gruesome grenade attack of 21 August 2004.

AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam spoke on the occasion while AL leaders and workers and family members of the August 21 grenade attack and those who were injured were present at the programme.

The Prime Minister said she and her government does not want to see the recurrence of August 21 grenade attack in the country and added that the incidents of terrorism and militancy are taking place across the globe with newer dimensions.

She extended her heartfelt thanks to the people of all spheres as they have stood united against terrorism and militancy. ‘If people remain united, then we'll be able to protect Bangladesh from such incidents.’

The Prime Minister said, ‘The stance of our government is very clear…we don't want terrorism and militancy in Bangladesh…we want our people to live in peace, want to achieve socioeconomic development, for which we're working tirelessly.’

Referring to the killing of an imam in New York, a couple of killings and US AL Vice President killings in the USA, Sheikh Hasina said these days no country is safe from terrorism and militancy.

Blasting the BNP-Jamaat clique for their role in the August 21 grenade attack, Hasina alleged the then BNP-Jamaat government had staged 'Joj Mia' drama instead of properly investigating the incident and protecting the evidence.

Hasina said just a few days before the August 21 grenade attack, BNP chief Khakeda Zia had said she (Hasina) will not be able to become Prime Minister again, not even the opposition leader. ‘The conspiracy was very much clear in the BNP chief’s remarks.’

She also said the elder son of BNP chairperson had stayed for about 8-10 months at his father-in-law's house to hatch the conspiracy before the grenade attack.

After the gruesome grenade attack, Hasina further alleged, Awami League MPs were not even allowed to utter a word on the attack in parliament, let alone a general discussion and adopting a condemnation motion.

Instead of taking part in the rescue operation, she said, police fired teargas shells and charged batons on the injured AL leaders and workers on that day following the directives from the BNP-Jamaat government so that the attackers could easily flee the scene without any trouble.

The Prime Minister said even attempts were made to wipe out the evidence after bringing vehicles from the city corporation.

At the beginning of the programme, the Awami League chief placed a wreath at the makeshift memorial showing deep homage to the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack.

Flanked by senior Awami League leaders, Hasina then placed another wreath as the Awami League President.

Leaders of the central 14-party alliance also placed wreaths at the memorial.

Then a special munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls and recovery of those who were severely injured during that grenade attack.