The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Awami League and its allies and Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday blamed each others for the October 28 (2006) carnage that killed as many as 12 political activists and injured about 2000 others, as supporters of the BNP-led four-party alliance and AL-led grand alliance locked in fierce street battles across the country.

It was the last day of the BNP-led alliances' five years tenure.

At least three persons-two belonging to the Jamaat and one to the Workers Party-were killed and hundreds others injured at Purana Paltan in the capital, the main battlefield on the day.

Supporters of rival political camps were seen dancing on the bodies of political rivals killed by both the sides at Purana Paltan of Dhaka on the day in broad daylight that triggered global protests and tarnished the country's image abroad.

Jamaat-e-Islami and Workers Party lodged two separate murder cases on the following day accusing top leaders of either sides for the killings.

AL President Sheikh Hasina, General Secretary Abdul Jalil, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu were named as accused in the Jamaat's case while Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were named as accused in the Workers Party's case.

All of them, are now on bail, except Sheikh Hasina and Abdul Jalil who are in prison but in connection with different cases.

The political confrontations ensued when the BNP-led alliance and the AL-led alliance resorted to street violence in order to establish political supremacy in the country.

Recalling the incidents of October 28 of last year, Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman squarely blamed the Jamaat-e-Islami for the inhuman incident.

He demanded of the Caretaker Government to take action against Jamaat-Shibir and their patrons responsible for the incident.

While talking to journalists, the AL leader said AL led 14-party alliance had organised a road blockade on that day marking the end of the misrule of the BNP-led 4-party alliance.

He claimed that Jamaat-Shibir had launched virulent attacks on the activists of 14-party alliance and rained bullets on the demonstrators killing a cadre of the Workers Party at Paltan.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon also blamed Jamaat-e-Islami for the October 28 carnage and demanded the Government to punish the perpetrators of the crime.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami blamed the AL-led alliance for the October 28 killing and urged the Cartaker Government to punish the killers.

Talking to journalists at his party office, he said leaders of the AL could not shirk their responsibility of the October 28 murder since it was organised on broad daylight.