PM Urged To Refrain From Undermining Country’s Image

"We can realize your pain and the reason of irrelevant speaking before the foreign masters. But, you have committed a great mistake in politics by boycotting the election," she said.

"You have unfolded all efforts to resist the election but failed. The opportunity is now closed," she added.

Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, was addressing a discussion of the party at Suhrawardi Udyan on the occasion of the party's 65th founding anniversary.

"Awami League has no foreign masters. Awami League is empowered with the strength of the people. The party with the support of the people would take the country forward," Sheikh Hasina said.

She reiterated her commitment to complete the trial of the war criminals, saying that the nation would be freed from the stigma of war crimes as it had happened in the case of Bangabandhu killers.

Congratulating leaders and workers of Awami League and its associate bodies on the occasion of the party's founding anniversary, she said all successes of the country were secured by the party.

She urged the party leaders and workers to work together to strengthen the organization at the grassroots and said people don't expect anything from any other political party except Awami League.

Advisory council members of the party Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Suranjit Sengupta, presidium members Matia Chowdhury, Sahara Khatun, general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, joint secretary Dr Dipu Moni and president of Dhaka City unit M A Aziz also spoke at the meeting conducted by publicity secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud and Deputy Publicity Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil.

Citing the history of formation of Awami League on June 23, 1949, the Prime Minister said, many founding leaders of the party had left the party at different times. But, the party under the leadership of Bangabandhu never deviated from its cherished goal of political and economic emancipation of the Bengali nation.

She said, the party had weathered many storms. When Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani left the party, Bangabandhu resigned from the cabinet and took up the responsibility of organizing the party.

"Awami League is like a piece of diamond. The more you cut it, the brighter it shines, which will illuminate the entire country," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, Bangabandhu organized a nucleus within the Chhatra League in 1961 to inspire the nation to independence. The slogans of the Liberation War, the national anthem and even the colour of the national flag were determined by Bangabandhu.

After liberation, the Prime Minister said, Bangabandhu busied himself with the reconstruction of the war ravaged country and trial of the war criminals. He also presented the nation with an exceptional constitution within a year after independence.

The prime minister said, when the country was progressing fast, conspirators like Khandakar Mushtaq and Ziaur Rahman connived to assassinate the Father of the Nation.

"Later, Zia rehabilitated the war criminals and killers of Bangabandhu and killed hundreds of officers and soldiers in the armed forces. He made sure that the results of the freedom didn't reach the doorstep of the common people."

Referring to Khaleda Zia's recent charges accusing the Prime Minister of killing Zia, Sheikh Hasina said, "Why are you saying so after so many years? After taking all benefits from Ershad for a decade, you suddenly discovered in 1990 that Ershad was the person behind her husband's killing."

Sheikh Hasina said, "After the killing of Zia, I was the first to issue statement for protecting the Constitutional continuity. But, Ershad seized power with the connivance of Khaleda."

Sheikh Hasina said, Raqibul Huda (then Chittagong police commissioner), who was responsible for Chittagong massacre and tried to killed me during Ershad regime, was later promoted by BNP.

"It proves their fascination for killers", she said, adding that killing is their habit. The husband (Zia) and wife both are good at killing and so is the son (Tareq). No wonder that they tried to obstruct the January 5, 2014 election by killing scores of innocent people, she said.

The prime minister said, BNP and Jamaat killed and tortured people indiscriminately like the Pakistanis who had done the same in 1971.

Sheikh Hasina said, the January 5 election was crucial to the nation as it was constitutionally binding for continuity and advancement of democracy.

The prime minister said, investigation is on to find out the deposits of Bangladeshis who have kept their money in Swiss bank accounts. She said, the government is collecting the list of the depositors and the money will be brought back to the country.