DHAKA, Oct 19, 2021 (BSS) - Describing Bangladesh as a secular
country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged all not to resort to
excessiveness over religion.

   "Bangladesh is a secular country. People of all faiths will perform
their religious rites independently here, which is enshrined in the
Constitution.

 “Islam also echoed the same as Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM) said that don't make
excess over the religion. So, we want to see that none will do excess
regarding religion and everyone will live in the country in peace,"
she said.

  The premier was presiding over a discussion arranged by the Awami
League (AL) at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office in the capital
marking the "Shaheed Sheikh Russel Day" and the 58th birthday of
Sheikh Russel.

  Sheikh Hasina, also president of the ruling AL, has vowed to turn
Bangladesh into a pleasant abode for the children where their talents,
knowledge and intellects will blossom naturally so that they can take
the country forward towards development and prosperity.

   She added: "Russel is no more today. But, there are thousands of
children in the country. We have to ensure security for them and
fulfill their every demand as they can lead a beautiful life and to be
groomed as the worthy citizens of the country."

   Quoting a few lines from the poem "Chhinapotra" of Poet Sukanta
Bhattacharya, the premier said she couldn't know whether she would be
able to make the world livable, but she made a pledge to make
Bangladesh a livable place for the children.

   "I want to establish a peaceful environment in Bangladesh for all,
particularly for the children so that none has to give life like my
youngest brother Russell," she continued.

   Earlier, the premier unveiled a book titled "Bangabandhur Shikhya
Dorshan" (Bangabandhu's Education Philosophy) published by AL's
sub-committee on Education and Human Resources. AL General Secretary
and Road Transport and Bridges Minister, Obaidul Quader gave the
welcome address.

   Among others, AL Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, MP,
Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, MP, Advocate
Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretary AFM
Bahauddin Nasim, Central Executive Committee Member Mofazzal Hossain
Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit
Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Women Affairs
Secretary Meher Afroz Chumki, MP, Dhaka South City AL President Abu
Ahmed Monnafi and Dhaka North City AL General Secretary SM Mannan
Kochi, spoke on the occasion.

   Publication and Publicity Secretary of the AL Dr Abdus Sobhan
Golap, MP, conducted the discussion from the Ganabhaban end.

  Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was born on October 18 in 1964 at the historic
Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi 32 no road in the city.

   He was martyred along with most of his family members, including
his father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on August 15, 1975 when
he was a student of class four at the University Laboratory School and
College.

   To mark the day, government bodies, ruling Awami League and its
associate bodies, and different socio-cultural organizations have
taken various programmes to observe the day at national and
international level.

 

  Mentioning that Bangladesh is a small country in terms of area and
largest one in view of population, Sheikh Hasina said, "I wish every
person of this country to get a beautiful and improved life as
envisioned by the Father of the Nation. My target is to fulfill it."

  The premier said since coming to power her government has been
working tirelessly to ensure that no children will remain as "street
children".

   "Each child will have an address and no longer will they stay in
the street," she said, adding, "Our government has been working to
ensure that every homeless and landless person have a home.

  Referring to the August 15, 1975 carnage in which 10-year-old
Russell along with most of her family members were martyred, killings
of thousands of military officers and soldiers in 19 coups during 1975
to 1981 in the names of trials, the premier came down heavily on those
who are now talking about humanity.

   She asked them to look into the matters, saying that she even could
not file a case after returning home as a law was enacted to give
indemnity to the killers of Bangabandhu and his family members.

   Noting that many BNP leaders claimed that armed forces were
disciplined and powerful during the regime of Ziaur Rahman, she
questioned how it was possible to remain disciplined after the
occurrence of 19 coups in the army.

   Sheikh Hasina said that Ziaur Rahman had not only killed the Father
of the Nation, but also killed thousands of military officers and
soldiers in the name of holding trials of the coups.

  "They had no humanity in the past. Still they have no humanity," she observed.

  The premier said after assuming power they held trial of the killers
of Bangabandhu and her family members while Khaleda Zia, wife of Zia,
stopped the trial after coming to power in 2001.

   She said Khaleda also reinstated the killers of Bangabandhu in jobs
and many of them were promoted and took some of them to the
parliaments. "What was the reason for Khaleda Zia to favor the
killers?"

   "It is crystal clear that Ziaur Rahman was directly involved in the
August 15, 1975 carnage along with killer Mustaq," she said.

  The premier said it was a matter of great regret that Russel was
killed at last after killing most of her family members following a
direction. "Who had given the direction that the little one wouldn't
have to remain alive?" she questioned.

 

 Sheikh Hasina recalled the birth time of Russel, saying Russel was
born on October 18 in 1964 when Bangabandhu was in Chattogram to
conduct an election campaign for Fatema Jinnah. "Bangabandhu was
informed about it over the phone," she added.

  Russel always stayed beside Bangabandhu, after he was released from
prison in February, 1969, in fear of losing father again as earlier
Bangabandhu was arrested in May, 1966 following the announcement of
the six-point demand and he (Russel) was deprived of love and care of
father.

  The premier in an emotion choked voice said that Sheikh Russell used
to cry after meeting their father in jail.

  "Russel did not want to sleep at night and used to cry on those days
when they visited Bangabandhu in jail --he (Russel) could not say
anything as he was too little, but he had suppressed his pain," she
also said.

  Noting that Sheikh Russel had a dream to be an army officer, she
said, "He (Russel) used to gather all the children together and do a
parade whenever we went to our village home."

   Russel used to give Taka one to each of the children as rewards,
she said, adding that her youngest brother asked their parents to give
each of the children a new dress.

  As per Russel's wish, the premier said, her mother gave new dresses
to each of the children. Russel also used to have food with servants',
she added.