PM Vows to Put Smile on Faces of Poor

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday vowed to bring a smile to the faces of the dressed people of this country as dreamt by Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by giving them an improved lifestyle.

''Let's make a vow together on the martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation and our other family members. Father (Bangabandhu), we promise we'll bring a smile to the faces of the distressed people of your Bangla. Bangladesh will move ahead raising its head high in the world arena and the people of Bangladesh will get an improved lifestyle…it's a promise,'' she said.  

The Prime Minister was addressing a discussion meeting arranged by Bangladesh Awami League marking the National Mourning Day and 45th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League President, presided over the virtual function joining it through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban in the city, while other participants were connected from the AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.

The Prime Minister said the government will do whatever necessary to give the people a better lifestyle as the Father of Nation dreamt that the people of Bangladesh will get food, clothes and improved life.

She said Awami League, returning to power, has relentlessly been working to change the fortune of the country’s people as it is their promise to Bangabandhu. ''It's the people of Bangladesh for whom he (Bangabandhu) did politics,'' she added.

Talking about extrajudicial killings, the Prime Minister said Ziaur Rahman had given indemnity to the killers of the Father of Nation and his wife Khaleda Zia indemnity to the killers who unleashed indiscriminate killings in the name of ‘Operation Clean Heart’.

''Now, all talk about extrajudicial killings, but all have forgotten how many people were brutally killed in the name of the 'Operation Clean Heart' after Khaleda Zia had come to power,'' she said adding that Khaleda Zia assumed power through a 'farcical' election on October 1, 2001.

In the name of the 'Operation Clean Heart', many people, particularly Awami League leaders and activists, used to be picked up and killed indiscriminately, said Hasina adding that Khaleda Zia had given an indemnity to prevent the trial of such killings.

At the outset of the meeting, a one-minute silence was observed in memory of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.