PM Urged The Countrymen To Raise Voice Against The Brutality Of BNP-Jamaat

She said the perpetrators of barbaric activities don't believe in any definition of politics nor in the constitution, independence and democracy at all. They have no value of the lives of people. So people will get nothing from them if they come to power again, she said.

The prime minister was unveiling the cover of a special publication of Bangladesh Awami League containing the video and photographs on political violence of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami across the country during the period from February 2013 to January 5, 2014.

The publication titled: 'Blood-Stained Bangladesh' a saga of BNP-Jamaat terrorism against the people of the country, is a documentary evidence of BNP and Jamaat led political violence to make Bangladesh a failed state under the cover of political agitation.

"It's my only request to the countrymen that such situation is not repeated in the country and no political party make fun with the dead bodies of toiling masses and sending the lives of people to darkness," she said.

Comparing the political violence of BNP and Jamaat with the atrocities of Pakistani forces in 1971, the Prime Minister said, the anti-liberation forces could not accept emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state. So they always tried for retaliation.

"They carried out genocide in 1971, brutally killed Father of the Nation and four national leaders, freedom fighters after 1975 and common people after 2001 election. In the same style they swooped on the people of Bangladesh in 2012 and 20013," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, "It was the political decision of BNP to boycott the election. It's their freedom. But how they could resorted to a complete vandalism and rampant killing of common people, police, BGB and army personnel and put people on fire to foil the election," she said adding BNP could not involve people with its movement, so they tried to make trouble by killing people.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has tried its best to stand beside the affected families and in future her government would do so.

"We cannot return the persons who lost their lives and suffered losses due to the violence. But we can try to shun the repetition of the violence and allow relief to the injured persons and relatives of the deceased," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, "I'm not avaricious for power. Power is not also a way of leading a lavish life. Our foremost goal is to establishing the ideals of the war of independence for which thirty million people, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman embraced martyrdom."

Family members of some victims of BNP-Jamaat atrocities and some of the injured persons were present on the occasion. The prime minister talked to them and inquired about their wellbeing. Getting the prime minister in their proximity some of them embraced her and burst into tears. The prime minister consoled them giving patient hearing to their problems.

PM's advisor and chairman of the publication committee of the book H T Imam presided over the function while Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam spoke among others. Publicity secretary Awami League Dr Hasan Mahmud and Deputy Publicity Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil conducted the meeting.

Relatives of some of victims also gave horrifying statement on the atrocities of BNP-Jamaat on those days while it was also addressed by a number of persons who sustained critical injuries but were lucky enough to survive.

They include Ramzan Ali, a covered van driver and father of Munir, a minor boy burnt alive, railway employee Pearul Islam, Helal Uddin Pearu, an Awami League supporter of Fatikchhari, advocate Khodeza Nasrin, injured in the fire on a city bus at Shabagh, Laila Khatun, wife of police constable Hazrat Ali and Saidul Islam, a presiding officer of Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha.

Cabinet members, political leaders, editors, senior journalists, ambassadors of different countries were present on the occasion.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)

Photo Courtesy: Saiful Islam Kallol