BAKSAL was formed to unite the nation: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had formed Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League to unite the nation, but this idea was misinterpreted.

"What he had said during the constitutional amendment has taken an opposite interpretation. He had taken an excellent initiative to bring change to the fate of the people, including the poor. It was spoiled, which was very unfortunate," Sheikh Hasina said.

The premier said this while participating in the general discussion on the resolution brought in the Parliament to pay profound tribute to Bangabandhu on the occasion of Mujib Borsho (Mujib Year), marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation.

In her speech, the PM said Bangabandhu had announced the programmes for the second revolution of the country's rapid socio-economic development.

"But huge criticism started for the steps he had taken. Many things were said, such as that he had moved to establish a one-party rule and wanted to grip the power," said Sheikh Hasina.

"When the Father of the Nation formed the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League, he wanted to unite the whole nation. He had made calls for unity of all classes," PM said.

She added that Bangabandhu wanted to boost the production of the country and aide people's socio-economic development.

Noting that Bangabandhu's only goal behind BAKSAL was to bring smiles to the faces of the people, Hasina said he had amended the Constitution and it was just a five-year programme.

"I believe that if he could have done it in the next five years, Bangladesh would now be established as a developed country in the world. But unfortunately he was not allowed to do so," she said.

The PM also said that consolidating democracy, establishing rights of the oppressed and changing people's fate through decentralisation of power were the dreams of Bangabandhu.

"Our target is to materialise these dreams. Bangladesh Awami League is working in this regard," she said.

At one stage of her speech, the PM said amid the coronavirus pandemic followed by a cyclone and flood, arson attacks on several buses were taking place all of a sudden.

"Why and for whose interest?" she asked.

The PM said certain parties don't appoint polling agents and then boycott the elections half way.

"Later, they want to create anarchy after setting buses on fire. What is their target?" she said.

President Abdul Hamid witnessed the discussion from the President Box of the Parliament.

On November 9, Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina placed the resolution under rule 147 of the Rules of Procedure to pay solemn tribute to the Father of the Nation through a special session.

Earlier the same day, President Abdul Hamid had delivered a speech focusing on the life, works and philosophy of Bangabandhu in the special session.

A total of 79 MPs from treasury and opposition benches took part in the 19-hour long discussion on the resolution.

This was the first time the Jatiya Sangsad went into any special session setting a rare milestone in the history of parliament.

The activities of the special session ended with the passage and adaptation of the resolution.

Earlier, the parliament went into special sittings on two occasions -- January 31 and June 18 in 1974.

Former Yugoslav President Marshal Josip Broz Tito and then former Indian President VV Giri addressed in parliament respectively in those sittings.