BSS-43 PM-DISCUSSION 3 LAST DHAKA

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BSS-43

PM-DISCUSSION 3 LAST DHAKA

The prime minister recalled that the Father of the Nation took part in the movement for creation of Pakistan. “But he launched the movement for freeing the Bangalee nation when she saw that Pakistanis are exploiting the Bangalees and wanted to snatch their rights,” she said.

Pointing out Bangabandhu’s great role in the Language Movement, Sheikh Hasina said his contributions to the movement once were lost.

Bangabandhu, she said, had initiated this movement when he was a student of Dhaka University and for this he suffered jail time and again. “But our learned people did not mention it … only a few learned persons wrote it,” she said.

The prime minister also remembered Bangabandhu’s contributions to the movement of the class four employees of Dhaka University as well as the anti-famine movement and the peasants’ movement.

Sheikh Hasina said spirit for liberating the country among Bangabandhu had started from the Language Movement in 1948.

“Since then, he advanced the movement for independence step by step … through he highlighted the exploitation and deprivation before the people and evoked the desire for independence among them,” she said.

The prime minister said when the Father of the Nation was rebuilding the war-ravaged nation and taking it to the path of economic freedom, then terrorism, militancy and division among the freedom fighters were created to thwart Bangladesh’s advancement.

She said Bangabandhu then called for a national unity, saying that economic emancipation is most important for the people. “He created a platform with the people irrespective of parties and opinions to achieve the goal,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the Father of the Nation wanted to bring a revolutionary change in the election system. “By creating a national unity, he wanted to introduce such an (election) system so that none can spend additional money and carry out campaign personally,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu wanted to introduce it to ensure that the polls are not controlled by the money and sticks and the people posses the voting rights.

“I believe that the people of the country will realize gradually that how much the thinking of Bangabandhu about election was suitable for Bangladesh,” she said.

Had Bangabandhu been allowed to make the system effective, she added, the question about fair elections would have not been raised and bloodbath and killing have not been taken place centering the election.

The prime minister said military dictator Ziaur Rahman completely destroyed the politics of voting. “After grabbing power illegally and violating constitution, he staged so called ‘yes-no’ vote and presidential elections to legalize his power,” she said, adding this practice continued in Bangladesh for a long.

BSS/SH/KU/2138HRS