Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday called upon all pro-liberation forces to forge a greater unity across the country for building a non-communal Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“A greater unity among all pro-liberation forces is very vital at this time against those who opposed the national independence and sovereignty back in 1971,” she told a party discussion meeting organized on the occasion of the National Mourning Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
The prime minister recalled the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheihk Mujibur Rahman and 17 other members of her family on August 15, 1975 and said that the defeated forces of independence murdered the Father of the Nation at a time when he was trying his best to build a war-ravaged country.
In a scathing criticism against the former president and founder of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Ziaur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina said “the military dictator” had not just patronized but rewarded the killers of Bangabandhu and his family members with employment at home and abroad.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the incident of August 15, 1975 as a “black chapter of the nation’s history” and claimed that the “BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was involved in the killing of thousands of soldiers during as many as 19 military coups and counter-coups since he took over power.”
Returning to power after 21 years, she said, her party Awami League started the trial of those who killed Bangabandhu, his family members and the four national leaders as per their pre-election promise and lashed out at opposition BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami for “trying to block their trial.” The prime minister said that opposition BNP in collusion with Jamaat and Hefazat attempted to create anarchy in the country by damaging public property and burning the holy Quran. “How can they serve Islam while they do not hesitate to burn even the Quran?” she questioned in an obvious reference to Hefazat activists.
Taking a swipe at opposition leader and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for celebrating her birthday on the National Mourning Day, Sheikh Hasina told the meeting that there is no documentary evidence whatsoever that the opposition leader was born on August 15.
“Yet, the BNP chairperson celebrated her 68th birthday on the National Mourning Day,” the prime minister noted with regret and added: “she did it only to please the defeated forces of independence.”
Sheikh Hasina said if BNP returns to power, a massive corruption would sweep the country while terrorism would register a steep rise and
there would be shortage of gas and electricity. On the other hand, when Awami League comes to power, the nation gets rewarded nationally and internationally, she added.
Speaking on the occasion, Awami League general secretary and LGRD and cooperatives minister Syed Ashraful Islam said there would not be any compromise with those who make merry by cutting cakes on the National Mourning Day.
“It is impossible to sit for a dialogue with those who celebrate birthday by cutting cakes on this tragic day while the whole nation mourns the brutal killing of the Father of the Nation and his family members,” Ashraf said.
“It’s unthinkable in a civilized society. We have to take decision right at this moment as to how we can show our total hatred to those who make merry in the name of observance of birthday on August 15,” he said.
The Awami League general secretary also called upon the party leaders and activists to keep their complete confidence in the Prime Minister and remain united to make Awami League victorious in the next general elections.
Addressing the meeting, AL advisory council member Amir Hossain Amu alleged that the main opposition BNP was hatching a conspiracy to turn the country into a failed state by waging movement for a non-party caretaker administration.
Calling upon the party’s leaders and workers to remain united under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Amu said if they remain united, Awami League will go to power again through the next polls.
Mohammad Nasim said a government cannot implement all of its election pledges in one term and urged the people to give another opportunity to Awami League to complete the unfinished tasks and fulfill the remaining promises.
Deputy Leader of Jatiya Sangsad Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury was in the chair while advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Jute and Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, presidium members Mohammad Nasim, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, MP, Dhaka University Vice chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, among others, took part in the discussion meeting.
-With The Independent input
