Bangladesh is being freed from curse: HPM Sheikh Hasina

"I think execution of the verdicts of the war criminals has brought a great solace for those who have long been living with biting pains after losing their near and dear ones during the War of Liberation," she said in her concluding speech at the end of the 8th session of the 10th Jatiya Sangsad.

Sheikh Hasina said the country would not be freed from the decades-old curse if the trial of the 1971 culprits, who committed crimes against the humanity during the War of Liberation, is not finished.

"I think the country is being freed from that curse with implementation of the court judgments," she said, adding Bangladesh is economically advancing and witnessing development due to the gradual freedom form that curse.

In this connection, the Leader of the House said there is no limit of the offences the war criminals committed during the War of Liberation. "Children, women, intellectuals-none could escape from their brutality and atrocities," she said.

The Prime Minister said her government has completed the trial of the killing of Bangbanadhu and the four national leaders. "In the same way, we have launched the trial of the war criminals, which military dictator Ziaur Rahman halted after the assassination of Bangabandhu, and execution of the verdicts," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated the trial of the war criminals and in this connection he promulgated an ordinance and constituted tribunals.

"But it was Ziaur Rahman, who became the army chief and the president simultaneously after capturing power unconstitutionally, released the war criminals from jail and put them in the state power," she lamented.

Sheikh Hasina said Ziaur Rahman made Shah Azizur Rahman the prime minister of independent Bangladesh, who addressed in the United Nations as a special representative of Yahya Khan, and Abdul Alim a minister, who killed hundreds of freedom fighters. "Ziaur Rahman put such war criminals in the state power and handed over our blood-stained national flag to them," she said.

The Leader of the House extended her thanks to the Leader of the Opposition Begum Raushan Ershad for rightly pointing out that Bangladesh is one of the safest countries in the world. "We have heard enough words whether Bangladesh is a safe or unsafe country," she said.

In an oblique reference, the Prime Minister said efforts are being made to declare the presence of (militants) the Islamic State in Bangladesh. "But we have time and again said there will be no place for the militants in our country," she said, adding that her government has been able to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for 16 crore people in a small territory of 54,000 square miles area.

In this connection, the Prime Minister urged all including the lawmakers to work together so that the IS or militants do not take any place in Bangladesh.
"Ill efforts are underway to create an unstable situation in the Muslim countries. But Bangladesh is still safe from that situation," she said.

Referring to the survey of US organization, Gallup, she said it showed that Bangladesh is safer as a country than the United States. "In this way, we want to keep Bangladesh peaceful and for that the people of all spheres will have to be active," she said and urged all to extend their cooperation towards the law enforcement agencies.

Referring to the atrocities and mayhem the BNP-Jamaat harboured from 2013 to March 2015 to foil the January 5 elections, the Prime Minister said the BNP-Jamaat clique killed 150 people and 20 members of the law enforcement agencies brutally in the name of the so-called movement.

"Minor children, female college students, pregnant women, bus passengers-none were spared from their atrocities," she said.

In this regard, the Leader of the House mentioned that the BNP leader had declared that she would not return home until overthrowing of the present government.

"Khaleda Zia confined herself with 65 partymen into the BNP's Gulshan office for over three months and enforced hartal and blockades for 93 days," she said, adding that the blockade is yet to be withdrawn.

The Prime Minister said the BNP-Jamaat nexus unleashed destruction for three
months in the name of the movement to topple the elected government. "We staged movement, but we never saw such a destructive movement. Killing of the people is what type of a movement?" she questioned.

After unleashing killing and terrorism in the country, she said, Khaleda Zia went abroad. "After Khaleda Zia went abroad, the killing of foreigners started in Bangladesh. Two foreigners were assassinated and attack was made on another foreigner," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the accused in the killings were identified and some of them were arrested. "We are taking action against the culprits and the law enforcement and intelligence agencies remain active in this regard," she said.

Spelling out Bangladesh's success in different sectors, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh has set up an example in the world in the field of socioeconomic development.

"Bangladesh is a victorious nation which earned independence through the War of Liberation. "We would always move raising our head high, not bowing down to anybody," she said, assuring that her government would do everything for further development of the country.

The Prime Minister expressed her firm determination that whatever conspiracies are hatched, none would be able to impede the country's current pace of advancement.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina called upon all public representatives including the lawmakers to be careful so that the ongoing projects could be completed properly.