DHAKA, Nov 3, 2020 (BSS) – Referring to some conspiracies including the incidents of BDR carnage and Hefajat’s so-called movement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said no conspiracy could remove Awami League from power as it has public mandate.
“When we assumed office in 2008, many incidents and conspiracies like the BDR carnage and Hefajat’s so-called movement have been made to thwart Awami League from the power,” she said while virtually addressing a discussion marking the Jail Killing Day from her official Ganabhaban residence here.
The premier added the vested quarters have failed to do so, saying, “The Awami League is being survived only by working for the people, not by begging mercy or kindness from anyone.”
Sheikh Hasina, also President of Awami League, reminded that it could be possible to murder (anyone) through conspiracy but none could stay in power without support from the mass people.
Coming down heavily on different quarters for making wholesale criticism of Awami League regarding the procedure of its coming to power, she said, “Whatever they want to say, it is the reality that we have come to power with the vote and support of the people.”
She continued, “The more you try to remove Awami League from the power, the more it will be deep-rooted into the soil.”
The premier said many have thought that her party will never come to power after the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, but the party comes to power time and again as it is working for the welfare of the people and in response, the people are supporting the party.
She said, “People are supporting us as we are working for them.”
The AL president said why people would stand for the parties mainly BNP as they do not go to the masses for seeking vote and do nothing for the people after being formed from the cantonments under the patron of illegal governments rather being formed from the grassroots.
On the contrary, she said the Awami League was formed from the grassroots through waging struggles to establish the rights of commoners.
AL’s General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader gave the welcome address while it’s Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap conducted the meeting.
The Awami League organised the meeting from the party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.
At the outset of the meeting, a one minute silence was observed to show rich tribute to Father of the Nation, the four national leaders, martyrs of the Language Movement, Liberation War and all the progressive and democratic movements.
The Prime Minister mentioned that her party has made the highest ever sacrifice for the wellbeing of the countrymen as most of the martyrs of democratic movements are the followers of the Father of the Nation.
She added that the Father of the Nation, the four national leaders and numerous leaders and activists of the Awami League had been killed.
“No other political party (in the country) has to face such numerous killings. The leaders and activists of the Awami League sacrificed their lives for establishing the rights of the people,” she said.
She vowed to continue the work for the welfare of the people as the country was liberated under the leadership of Awami League aiming to change the fate of the people.
The PM said the killings of four national leaders after the murder of the Father of the Nation on August 15 in 1975 has proved they were killed aimed at destroying the spirit of the Liberation War and the country.
“After the August 15 killings, some vested quarters tried to propagate that the killing was against a family. But the real motive had surfaced with the killing of four national leaders inside the well-protected jail,” she said.
The PM mentioned that the killing was a political conspiracy against the country’s independence and the people of the country which proved that those were aimed at changing the ideals of the Liberation War.
Sheikh Hasina came up with the opinion that the people who could not accept the independence of Bangladesh, did not recognise of independent Bangladesh, and did not want independent Bangladesh were the masterminds of the killings.
The PM said Ziaur Rahman, who was the right-hand of Mostaque Ahmed, was involved in the conspiracy.
She added that it became crystal clear that both were behind the conspiracy when killer Mostaque made Ziaur Rahman the army chief.
After the killings, she said the country was deviated from the spirit of the Liberation War.
Apart from this, attacks had also been made against the Awami League time and again on the August 21, 2004 and January 24 in 1988, the PM said adding, “They could not damage the party even after killings numerous numbers of leaders and activists as it is a deep-rooted party and its main strengths are the grassroots leaders and activists and huge support of the countrymen.”
In this connection, she said, “I have nothing to say if anyone gets hurt after seeing the huge support of the people for the Awami League,” she said.
She continued the people know better that her party works for the welfare of them after assuming office while others particularly the BNP becomes busy with making their own money and enjoy power.
She said her party always assumes office with the vote of the masses.
The military dictator Ziaur Rahman not only destroyed the spirit of the Liberation War but also destroyed generation after generation with giving them arms and money and created an elite section by giving them scope of committing corruption and terrorism to cling to the power.
Awami League has been working for serving the grassroots people instead of creating an elite group as it believes no party can stay in power without their mandate.
Despite the fact, some people are hatching conspiracy to unsettle the government, she said urging her party leaders and activists to remain vigilant against the plots.
Criticising heavily the people who are raising questions about the vote rigging, Sheikh Hasina said that Ziaur Rahman polluted the country’s polling system with holding ‘Yes-No’ vote and presidential vote during his regime.
She said that Ziaur Rahman formed a political party BNP through giving share of his government, adding, “The party which was formed in a such way cannot give anything to the nation.”
The Prime Minister questioned the people who praise Ziaur Rahman for establishing multi-party democracy, how a man, who came to the power violating the constitution, can give the country democracy?
She said the main purpose of Ziaur Rahman, Ershad and Khaleda Zia was to pursue anarchy in the country through corruption, militancy, terrorism and killings to remain in the power.
Sheikh Hasina once again vowed to go tougher against terrorism, militancy, drugs and corruption.
The PM, however, reminded all about the fresh surge of Covid-19 in Europe and America with advent of winter forcing many country to impose lockdown.
She called upon all to follow the health guidelines properly and wear face masks in gatherings to stay protected as winter is approaching in the country.
The Prime Minister has taken an oath that AL leaders and activists would not let the shedding of bloods of Father of the Nation and four national leaders to go in vain as they must build a developed and prosperous country free from hunger and poverty.