Prime Minister Chairs Party Rally at Krishibid Institution

"Otherwise, people of the country will teach him a befitting lesson," the prime minister said in a discussion organized by Bangladesh Awami League at Krishibid Institution marking the Victory Day 2014.

Sheikh Hasina said the mastermind of the barbaric August 21 grenade attack and other killings during BNP-Jamaat regime must be held and the criminals would be brought to book like war criminals. People of Bangladesh will not spare them, she said.

The Prime Minister said all verdicts against the war criminals will be executed one after another. Nobody would be able to help them escape the judicial process.

Criticizing Begum Zia for dodging appearance in the court in connection with two corruption cases, the Prime Minister said, "If you are so honest why are you afraid of facing the court. The bahaviour of her lawyers in the court of law is also unprecedented in a civilized country, she said.

Advisory council members of Awami League Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Suranjit Sengupta, presidium members Matia Chowdhury and Fazlul Karim Selim, among others, took part in the discussion while Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad and Awami League Presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury was in the chair.

General Secretary of Awami League Dhaka City unit Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Awami League joint secretaries Mahbub ul Alam Hanif and Dr. Dipu Moni, organizing secretaries Ahmed Hossain and AFM Bahauddin Nasim and senior party leader Advocate Quamrul Islam also spoke on the occasion.

Publicity Secretary of the party Dr Hasan Mahnud and Deputy Publicity Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil conducted the meeting.

Speaking of the history of freedom struggle of the Bengali people, the Prime Minister said, Bangabandhu had prepared the nation and its people for liberation war.

At his directives, Bengali people joined 'Ashohojog Andolon' (non-cooperation movement) against the Pakistani regime which was unique across the country. People made their houses into 'fort' to resist the enemies at his call.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu much before the 1970 election had drawn his working plan in a meeting in London. In view of this, he consulted many important civil and military persons and foreign friends as well about what to do if the Pakistani rulers accept or reject the poll results.

"In the London meeting, Bangabandhu came to a final decision for going to fight Pakistani regime if it went against verdict of the Bengali people," Sheikh Hasina said.

The Prime Minister, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said Bangabandhu dreamt of an independent Bangladesh as its people were always deprived of and could never enjoy freedom.

Out of his vision, she said, Bangabandhu repeatedly mentioned the word 'Bangladesh' in his many speeches in the legislative assembly in 1954 and 1956 and inspired the nation to translate into reality the existence of Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina said anti-liberation forces killed Bangabandhu when he ascertained the goal for economic emancipation of the people of his country. The illegal takeover of power in Bangladesh began with his killing.

The Prime Minister said Ziaur Rahman seized power in 1977 illegally and promptly moved to stop the trial of the war criminals which Bangabandhu initiated.

"BNP claims that Ziaur Rahman had proclaimed independence. If it's true how Ziaur Rahman made the war criminals members of his cabinet and advisors," she asked.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu banned war criminals from joining politics and curtailed the voting rights. Ziaur Rahman gave them back the rights.

The prime minister said, "If BNP believes in independence, what is the reason of their hobnobbing with the Rajakars and Al Badrs.

"Begum Zia would never give the national flag to the hands of the war criminals if she believes in independence at all," she said adding Zia and his wife rehabilitated the war criminals, Razakars and killers.

She said, war criminals and their cohorts followed the same path of Pakistani force while unleashing their atrocity on people in 2001 and 2013.

The prime minister said the highest court of the country declared the power seizure of Ziaur Rahman as illegal. But, BNP chairperson doesn't abide by the court verdict or law. It's her nature to oppose the war of liberation, independence and its spirit.

Sheikh Hasina said the sons of Ziaur Rahman were given government support for their studies as it was said that Zia had no deposit or wealth during his death.

"But, what his sons learned with the public fund. If they were educated and acquired human quality, they wouldn't talk so wildly".

In this regard, Sheikh Hasina criticized BNP leaders for their remarks on appointment of Sajib Wazed Joy as the PM's honorary advisor on ITC affairs.

She said Sajib, an IT specialist, holds two graduate degrees on ICT and has done his post graduation on ICT from Harvard University. Joy is the pioneer of the vision of the present government for building a Digital Bangladesh. In view of this Joy is providing his voluntary services to the government.

"So, how BNP leaders found involvement of millions of taka with the honorary appointment of Joy," the prime minister asked saying BNP never thinks of anything without money.

Sheikh Hasina said Khaleda Zia had to leave her residence in the Dhaka Cantonment area at the directives of the court. The government and the Awami League have no involvement with this eviction, she said adding many army officials now have their accommodation on that land.

About the recent claim of BNP leaders that Zia allowed her to come back home from exile in 1981, the prime minister said, "Zia wanted to meet with me in New Delhi and London." But she said she didn't meet with Zia as his hands were stained with blood.

After returning home, Sheikh Hasina said Ziaur Rahman didn't allow her to enter my home at Dhanmondi road no 32. Even, he didn't give permission to offer milad and doa there.

So, Begum Zia and BNP leader can come up with blatant lies without any hesitation, she said.