Zia-Mustaque wanted to spoil our victory and completely distort history: PM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday told Parliament that those who killed Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman committed the November 3 jail massacre in 1975.

“Four national leaders were killed in the central jail, which is a protected place. The killers of Father of the Nation – including Zia and Mustaque – committed this killing (jail killing),” she said joining an unscheduled discussion on the Jail Killing Day in the House.

The Leader of the House said Ziaur Rahman killed freedom fighters one after another from military officers as well as rehabilitated anti-liberation forces, collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces in power.

“They wanted to spoil our victory (achieved following the Liberation War) completely and distort history,” she said.

Hasina said Zia patronized and rewarded the killers and gave them jobs in foreign missions. HM Ershad also did the same and he allowed Bangabandhu's killer Col Faruk to do politics and gave scope for him to be a candidate for the post of President.

Criticising Barrister Mainul Hosein, the premier said he is now talking loud but he formed a political party with killers.

Pointing at the BNP, he said those who come to power in an illegal way can't give democracy and protect human rights.

“Now we've to hear statements on democracy and human rights. But those who come to power through martial law, they can't give democracy. Those who come to power in an illegal way violating the Constitution can't give democracy. How can they protect human rights?” she added.

“I think it wouldn't be possible to make such a development (of the country) unless we made Bangladesh free from curses by trying the killers (of Bangabandhu's killing and Jail Killing) and war criminals,” said Hasina.

AL lawmakers Amir Hossain Amu, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Matia Chowdhury, Tanvir Shakil Joy (grandson of martyred national leader Monsur Ali) and Naheed Ezaher Khan, and Jatiya Party lawmakers Kazi Firoz Rashid and Mashiur Rahman Ranga also joined the discussion.