BNP is the root of militants in Bangladesh: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Blasting Khaleda Zia for her recent comments on the killing of militants by law enforcement agencies, the Prime Minister said the BNP leader has raised question about the killing on the plea that it would help find the root of militancy if the militants would have been kept alive.

"There is no need to find the root of militants anywhere as she (Khaleda Zia) herself is the root of the militants and she is talking like the root of militants," the Prime Minister said.

"Is it not required to prove that those, who made the war criminals ministers and the killers leader of the opposition and parliament members through vote rigging, are linked to all killings, terrorism and militancy," she said.

Sheikh Hasina was addressing a memorial meeting organized by Awami League Dhaka South and North chapters marking the 41st martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"Does Khaleda want to keep the militants alive for worshiping?" she asked expressing her government's firm commitment to make the country free from all sorts of terrorism and militancy.

Haji Abul Hasnat, president of Dhaka South chapter, presided over the meeting held at Krishibid Institution in the city. Presidium Member of Bangladesh Awami League Sahara Khatun, joint secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, president of Dhaka North chapter AKM Rahmatullah, senior leaders Advocate Quamrul Islam and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Mayor of Dhaka (south) Sayeed Khokan and general secretaries of the chapters Sadek Khan and Shah Alam Murad took part in the discussion.

The Prime Minister urged the leaders and workers to strengthen the party with the ideals of the Father of the Nation to build Bangladesh as a hunger and poverty-free nation.

She also urged them to build up public opinion in favour of the trial of Zia and Khaleda Zia for making the war criminals ministers of their cabinets.

"Awareness should be created in people that Zia and Khaleda Zia who made the war criminals minister should be tried in open court. You have to build public opinion in this way and people would decide what punishment Khaleda Zia should get for her offence," the Prime Minister said.

Terming August 15 as the most stigmatized day in the life of Bengali people, the Prime Minister said the brutality showed by the killers is only comparable to 'Karbala carnage'.

"A person cannot bear pain of their loving one. But, my sister and I, one day during our overseas stay, came to know that we have none, we have lost our both parents, brothers and other family members which was the most painful time for us," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said during his three and a half years' tenure, Bangabandhu laid the foundation of development of Bangladesh being a newly liberated country. Had Bangabandhu got another three years time, Bangladesh would have grown as a developed country, she said.

Through the killing of Bangabandhu, people of Bangladesh lost their all rights and the anti-liberation forces shattered all opportunities of the nation, she said.

The killers of Bangabandhu hatched conspiracy for destroying nation's future permanently, but they could not do it for the courageous role of the party workers and people of the country, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has completed the trail of the Bangabandhu killers which made the country free from disgrace. The government has also taken initiatives for trail of the war criminals amidst many threats and pressure. But trial of the war criminals also is making the nation free from stigma, she noted.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is now on the road of prosperity. The nation will celebrate birth centenary of Father of the Nation in 2020, she said adding, "We have to take preparation how we will celebrate the occasion."

Urging the party workers to follow the ideology of Bangabandhu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said materialization of his ideology is the best way to pay homage to him.

Photo: Focus Bangla