DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the masterminds behind the August 17 countrywide serial bombings in 2005, at the height of militancy, would be brought to justice in the process of stamping out the menace.

Hasina squarely blamed the then ruling BNP-led four-party alliance for the 2005 series bomb attacks in all but one of the 64 districts.

“Without patronage of the state itself, such massive bombing carnage cannot be possible,” said the head of present Grand Alliance government in her scathing attack on her political archrivals.

“The militancy which was stoked up by the serial blasts in the country will be uprooted,” she said while addressing a function at the National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM) Tuesday

As the government has taken a strong stance against militancy and terrorism, such heinous attacks would never again take place in the country, hoped the premier.

On August 17 in 2005, about 500 time bombs were blasted simultaneously in 63 out of the 64 districts in the country. Munshiganj was the exception.  

Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the banned militant group, had claimed responsibility for the blasts through leaflets.

After the climax started the downfall of the reigning militants, and all the top leaders of the Islamist outfit were later executed.       

BDST: 1535HRS, AUG 17, 2010