Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday alleged that the then Khaleda Zia government, which was involved in gruesome activities, did not want to hand over the dead bodies of August-21 grenade attack to their relatives. “Not only they made killing attempts, but also carried out heinous activities with dead bodies after killings,” she said. Read: Bangladesh observes 17th anniversary of Dhaka grenade attack The Prime Minister said this in her introductory speech at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held at NEC Auditorium. She joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. Talking about the 17th death anniversary of Ivy Rahman, former president of Bangladesh Mahila Awami League and wife of late president M Zillur Rahman, the PM said she was taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for treatment. “I don’t know when she (Ivy) died. Khaleda Zia had been there to see her. After her departure, Ivy Rahman was declared dead,” she recalled. She mentioned that Ivy Rahman’s three children -- Papon (present BCB president), Tania and Moyna -- were kept under lock and key in a room for 3-4 hours while the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had been there. Read:Spl show to commemorate Aug 21 grenade massacre

BNP on Friday alleged that the grisly August-21 grenade attack in 2004 was an outcome of the ‘masterplan’ of Awami League to make its political gains.