BSS-21 PM-MOURNING-ASHURA-AUGUST-3 DHAKA

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BSS-21

PM-MOURNING-ASHURA-AUGUST-3 DHAKA

The prime minister said Bangabandhu lost 40 pounds of weight staying at the Pakistan jail during the Liberation War and when she returned home on January 10 after independence, he was seen lean and thin.

“Remaining at that state, he knew that the country will become independent and he didn’t lose a little bit of mental strength,” she said, adding the Father the Nation risked his life and bore all pains for Bangladesh’s independence and the freedom its people.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu moved ahead bearing with all sorrows and pains and he didn’t accept any condition in exchange for his release.

The prime minister said when the Father of the Nation was released from the jail, he went to London first and made his comments there.

Sheikh Hasina said after returning home Bangabandhu took the charge of the war-ravaged country and in his January 10 speech, he announced in which ideology and way the country will be run and he also unveiled the outline of the entire country.

She said the Father of the Nation had laid the foundation of all things and he enacted all necessary laws to bring smiles on the faces of the common people by meeting their basic needs including foods, housing and healthcare.

The prime minister said Bangladesh got membership of all international organisations during the Bangabandhu government. “Any country could not earn so much achievements within such a short time and it was possible due to the leadership of Bangabandhu,” she said.

Taking a swipe at a section of people who always question about existence of democracy, the prime minister said how those who grabbed power by suspending and violating constitution and promulgating marshal law could give democracy.

Pointing to military rulers who grabbed power after 1975, she said Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad did the same things that Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan did.

“Democracy was in words, was it there practically during that time? Those who grabbed power through marshal law couldn’t give democracy” she said.

The AL president said after grabbing power, Ziaur Rahman killed numerous leaders and activists of the Awami League. “Coups took place one after another during Zia’s rule and he killed thousands of freedom fighter army officers through it,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina said in this way Zia had established a reign of killing in the country. “Zia rewarded Bangabandhu’s killers by appointing them in Bangladesh missions abroad and where was democracy (at that time)?” she questioned.

The premier said there are many intellectuals and learned people who search for democracy. “Did they do it when emergency was imposed or military dictator grabbed power ?” she added.

“They get taste of democracy when such (unelected) governments assume power,” she said, adding their character is to make sycophants and those grab power in this way hire sycophants.

Sheikh Hasina added that these people are always ready to be used by the unelected governments. “When the true democratic system exists they’ve no value. It’s the main aim of a government to meet the basic needs of the people and it’s possible for a democratic government,” she said

MORE/SH/GA/1755 hrs