6-Point Demand Only Bangabandhu’s Brainchild: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday that the historic Six-Point Demand was only the brainchild of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as no-one else was involved in formulating this crucial political programme that led the county to its Independence.

"Some people like to tell a lot about the Six-Point Demand ... some claim it was achieved with that person's ideas, some tell it was conceived with the guidance of other men, however, I know for sure, it was the brainchild of his (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) own thinking," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while awarding prizes among the winners of the competition, which was held to mark the historic Six-Point Demand (June 7).

The Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman Birth centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee arranged the program at the International Mother Language Institute in the capital.  

The Prime Minister joined the programme from her official residence Ganobhaban virtually.

Recalling the background of the country's historical demands, Bangabandhu was arrested in 1958 and released on 17 December 1969. Politics was banned at that time. Bangabandhu did not abandon Dhaka, so he entered the Alfa Insurance Company.

She also said Tajuddin Ahmed was also under arrest at that time. After his release, he went to Fatulla, Narayanganj, to join his work. Bangabandhu went to Narayanganj to carry Tajuddin Ahmed back to Dhaka and to offer him a position at the Alfa insurance company.

Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was studying at Dhaka University then, said the Father of the Nation appointed Mohammad Hanif as his PA in the Alfa Insurance Company.

"Bangabandhu used to think, write down those and gave those write-ups to Hanif for typing out. Here only Hanif knew about this (Six-Point Demand) as he typed out that …no-one else would know about it," she said.

The Prime Minister categorically claimed that the Six-Point Request emerged out of Bangabandhu 's mind during the India-Pakistan war of 1965, which lasted three weeks, and that East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was fully defenseless.

She also said after the arrest of Bangabandhu and other front-ranking AL leaders due to the announcement of the Six- Point Demand, Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib (mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina) had played a great role in publicising and advancing the movement centring these demands.

"It cannot be imagined the contributions of my mother to Bangladesh, she always knew what my father wanted, she was very aware about those," Hasina said.

The Prime Minister said the August-15, 1975 massacre stopped the advancement of Bangladesh.

Talking about the August-15, 1975 brutal killing of Bangabandhu and his family members, she said that with that killing the defeated force emerged in the country and they tried to diminish the country's victory.

"I think there’s no scope for that now…history has its own course… no one can erase that and that‘s established today," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government wanted to advance the country following the path shown by the Father of the Nation.

"If we want to make Bangladesh as 'Golden Bengal' free from poverty and hunger, and a developed and prosperous one, then we must take lessons from history and follow the footsteps of the Father of the Nation. And we’ve to uphold our victory," she said.

State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak also spoke on the occasion.

President of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee National Professor Rafiqul Islam gave vote of thanks while Chief Coordinator Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.

The program also presented a report on Bangabandhu and historic Six-Point Order.

About 100 athletes won certificates endorsed by Prime Minister Sheik Hasina and bonus money to win various places in the competition in specific categories.

Dhaka University Public Administration department student Mohammad Imtiaz Pasha and Khulna Railway Girls' School teacher Khuku Rani expressed their feelings as winners.