<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The ruling party Awami League (AL), its associate bodies, its left-leaning allies and other political parties today paid homage to the martyrs of the brutal grenade attack that killed 24 people and wounded nearly 500 others.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first paid rich tribute to the martyrs of the grenade attack by placing floral wreaths at the altar set up in memory of the martyrs of the grenade attack in front of Awami League central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After paying tribute, the Prime Minister observed a moment of silence in memory of the martyrs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later, the premier along with other central leaders including the party's General Secretary Obaidul Quader paid tribute to the martyrs on behalf of Awami League.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also exchanged greetings with party leaders and those injured in the August 21st grenade attack.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Prime Minister also attended a discussion meeting organized to protest the attack and commemorate the victims.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the discussion, alter in memory of the martyrs of August 21 was kept open for all when the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the venue.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then leaders from different political parties and the leaders of ruling Awami League and its different associate bodies also paid tribute.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Leaders from different political parties were crowded in front of the AL's central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city this morning for paying rich tribute to the martyrs of the grenade attack on August 21 in 2004.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tributes also were paid to the martyrs on behalf of the 14-parties. The 19th anniversary of the attack is being observed every year through different programmes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) led by its Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh also paid tribute to the deceased of the grenade attack.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A total of 24 people including Awami League's women Affairs secretary Ivy Rahman were killed at a rally organized by the ruling party at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city on that day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The injured persons and family members of the grenade attack victims along with different political parties including Dhaka city South and North units of Awami League, Krishak League, Sramik League, Jubo League, Chattro League, Tanti League, Mahila Awami League, Matshyajibi League, Swechasebok League, Jubo League north and south city units, Dhaka district Awami League , Bangabandhu Parishad, Dhaka district Swechasebok League, Bangabandhu Sangskrit Jote, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Mayor Mohammad Hanif Memorial Foundation, Muktijoddah Projonmo League and Bangabandhu Gobeshona Parishad, among others, also paid respect to the martyrs by placing floral wreaths. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>