BNP can’t deny Zia’s involvement in 1975 carnage plot: PM

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DHAKA, August 31, 2020 (BSS) – Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today said that BNP couldn’t deny Ziaur Rahman’s involvement in the August 15, 1975 carnage as the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that Zia gave them complete support in this regard.

“BNP could not refuse that Ziaur Rahman was involved in the assassination of the Father of the Nation as the killers, (removed) Col Faruk and Rashid, in an interview with the BBC told that Zia was with them as he (Zia) instructed them to go ahead and he (Zia) extended all sorts of assistance in carrying out the August 15, 1975 carnage,” she said.

The premier, who was speaking as the chief guest in a virtual discussion joining from her official Ganabhaban residence through a video conference, said that truth can’t be suppressed no matter how much BNP shouts defending their party leader.

The Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) organized the discussion marking the National Mourning Day and the 45th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu at the AL’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.

The premier simultaneously said that the same things came into light in the confessional statements made by other killers that Zia along with them was involved in the August 15, 1975 carnage plot.

Noting that Ziaur Rahman was the most beneficiary of the Bangabandhu killing, she said, “Ziaur Rahman was made the army chief by Khandaker Mustaque after he illegally occupied the state power after the August 15,1975 massacre.”

The prime minister said that Zia did everything that required to destroy a nation, adding, “Zia had destroyed the student community as he pushed many meritorious students to different tracks with giving them arms and money. He took the students to a pleasure trip in the ship “Hilful Fujul” which Bangabandhu brought for conducting Hajj.”

Following the footprints of her husband, Khaleda Zia did the same thing in terms of using students for personal gain, she said referring to Khaleda’s remark that Jatyatabadi Chhatra Dal (student wing of BNP) was enough to teach the Awami League.

On the contrary, the prime minister said, “I handed pen and khata over the students as I knew that study was necessary to be worth citizens of the independent country.”

Recalling the glorious role of the BCL in all past movements of the country, Sheikh Hasina said the organization founded by Bangabandhu made important contributions to all past progressive struggles.

The premier said: “Bangabandhu had established the Chhatra League on January 4 in 1948, at a time when Pakistanis tried to snatch away our mother tongue. The Chhatra League gave complete support to organize the Language Movement.”

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu entrusted Chhatra League leaders and workers with the task of talking to the people about the Joy Bangla slogan, the Six-Point demand, and the proposed flag of an independent Bangladesh to drum up public opinions in favour of the movements.

The premier urged BCL leaders and workers to follow the ideals and philosophy of Bangabandhu, saying: “The Father of the Nation never thought of his own personal wellbeing, but rather the welfare of the people and the country.”

She asked BCL leaders and activists to read the three books written by Bangabandhu, namely “Amar Dekha Naya Chin” “Asamapta Atmajiboni” and “Karagarer Rojnamcha,” saying, “If you want to be leaders, you should read these books to learn about good politics.”

The prime minister also asked the BCL leaders to read the Pakistani intelligence report on Bangabandhu from which they could learn the true history of Bangladesh and the works of Bangabandhu.

She paid rich tribute to the BCL leaders, who had sacrificed their lives for the people, recalling their efforts in arranging burial for the COVID-19 patients risking their lives.

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader spoke at the discussion with BCL President Al Nahean Khan Joy presiding. BCL General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee moderated it.

The premier also unveiled the cover of the publication of the BCL titled “Matribhumi”.

At the outset of the discussion, one minute silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memories of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of the August 15 carnage

The premier hoped that the history will one day expose the conspirators of the August 15, 1975 carnage, saying, “The conspirators behind the scene have not yet been exposed…this history will be revealed one day…”

But, she said, that they held the trial of killers to ensure justice.

The premier once again accused military dictator Ziaur Rahman of resorting to the politics of killings and forced disappearance and said that after assuming power Zia had killed many freedom fighter army officials including Brigadier Huda and Khaled Mosharraf after staging coups one after another and killed the national four leaders inside the jail alongside killing and making forced disappearance of hundreds of leaders and activists of Awami League.

She added: “I want to ask those who are nowadays making allegations of disappearances and killings as who had started killings and disappearances. Zia even passed an indemnity bill to stop the trail of the killings aimed at giving the killers protection.”

Those who are now making the allegations of disappearances and killings, even did not criticize the acts done by Zia, she said.

The prime minister said Khaleda Zia had shown the same ugly face after assuming office in 2001 with killing thousands of leaders and activists of the Awami League in the name of “Operation Clean Heart” and passed the indemnity bill likewise her husband to give protection to the people by whom she did the heinous crimes.

While coming to power, the Awami League took the path of making sure the country’s overall development instead of choosing the path of revenge, she said, adding that for timely measures taken by her government the country had become self-reliant in food production in 1998.

Referring to the August 15, 1975 heinous carnage in the world history, the prime minister said that it was difficult for her to run the state with bearing such pains of losing everybody of her family except herself and her younger daughter Sheikh Rehana.

The assassins killed her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, mother Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three brothers- Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell- and wives of Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal, she added.

“But, I am running the state with a desire to bring smiles on the faces of the people for whom my father had struggled throughout his life,” she said, making a vow to change the lot of the countrymen by making Bangladesh a prosperous and developed country free from poverty and hunger.

The Father of the Nation gave an independent country, she said, adding that Bangabandhu made the nation prepared in phases since 1948 to liberate the country through the Liberation War of 1971.

About many ill attempts to erase the name of Bangabandhu from the country’s history, she said that truth cannot be suppressed, that is why the historic March 7, 1971 speech of Bangabandhu is now internationally recognized.

Recalling the contribution of her mother Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib to her father Bangabandhu’s life, she said “My father had gotten scope to work completely for the welfare of the country and its people as my mother never bothered him (Bangabandhu) regarding the familial matters.”

The premier said her mother always used to encourage Bangabandhu in doing politics for the people and never cared about her own interests and she never thought what she would get in her personal life.

Sheikh Hasina reminisced that Bangamata even saved every single penny which she got from her father’s assets and handed over those to her husband (Bangabandhu) to do politics.

“Alongside looking after the family affairs, Bangamata used to take care of the families of the detained and ailing leaders and arrange their treatment,” she continued.

In absence of Bangabandhu, Bangamata had shouldered his (Bangabandhu) every responsibility and took right decisions as she knew what the masses wanted, she said referring to Bangamata’s rejection of Bangabandhu’s release on parole in the Agartala Conspiracy Case and chose the Six-Point Demand instead of eight-point demand that was intended to divert the six-point demand movement to another direction.

Referring to Banbanbandhu’s contribution to running the state, the prime minister said that she has now become astonished how Bangabandhu within a short period of time (three and a half years) gave a base for everything including enactment of laws regarding sea and land boundary.

She however said, “We are currently running the state following the ideology of Bangabandhu.”

Highlighting her government’s initiatives making overall developments of the country particularly in the education sector, the premier said they have attached priority on education as no nation could be developed without education.

She said her government would give further incentive to the students for making their uniforms.

The government has been giving importance on the science and technology based education alongside regular one, she said, adding that they made Bangladesh digital by giving importance to this end.

She went on saying, “The country has been progressing economically using the digital platforms despite the fact that the entire world got stuck by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The prime minister once again asked all to use face masks, make hands sanitized and wash hands with soaps and strictly follow the health guidelines to stop further transmission of the coronavirus.