Bangamata’s Rejection of Bangabandhu Release on Parole Changed Political History: PM

Mentioning that her mother, Bangamata Sheik Fazilatunnesa Mujib, could have taken the right decision at any critical juncture of the nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today that her (Bangamata) decision to reject Bangabandhu 's release on parole has changed the course of the country's political history.

"The most important part of my mother's exposure to the democratic sphere was that my parents had made the best choices at the right moment. Yet, I'm sad to report so several of the major leaders have struggled to do so or taken the wrong choice at the moment, "she said.

When addressing the program marking the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the birth of Bangamata, the Prime Minister acknowledged that she (Bangamata) had taken the right decision by opposing Bangabandhu 's request for parole to conduct a roundtable discussion (in West Pakistan) after placing her life at risk, reports BSS.

"The right and timely judgment compelled Ayub Khan to drop the (Agartala Conspiracy) prosecution and also altered the trajectory of Bangladesh's political history," said Sheikh Hasina.

"She (Bangamata) used to guide the organization with competence (especially when Bangabandhu was in prison) and to make the right decisions," she added.

Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of the Bangabandhu Nation Father Sheik Mujibur Rahman, joined the program organized by the Aaffairs Ministry of Women and Children from her official Ganabhaban residence here on a virtual platform.

Many participants were accompanied by the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, the Prime Minister 's Office and Gopalganj.

Speaking at the program as Chief Guest, the Prime Minister remembered that the Pakistani military leaders had sought to use Bangamata 's name in the Agartala Plot Case for which Pakistani security services had tortured her (Bangamata) many times.

“She (Bangamata) knew it and I as her elder daughter also knew it. But she never lost her courage,” the prime minister said.

She also said, "You might have realized what might have happened about the fate of the remaining accused of the Agartala Conspiracy case had her father Bangabandhu been released on parole as Sergeant Zahurul Haque, one of the 35 accused in the case, was killed in captivity (of Pakistani military rulers)."

Turning to the historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu in 1971, Sheikh Hasina said the speech was not written and he (Bangabandhu) did not rehearse it before the mammoth rally at the then Race Course Maidan.

“Before the speech, my mother suggested Bangabandhu to say whatever comes in his mind, and there was no need to pay heed to the points of others … to say about the history of oppression on the Bangalees,” the premier said.

Today, she said, this landmark speech of 7 March by Bangabandhu has made UNESCO a World Documentary Heritage site and is considered one of the best speeches of all time.

Mentioning that Bangamata had a great deal of productivity in building up resistance and revolution, Sheik Hasina said that she played a tremendous role in creating major demonstrations in favour of the 6-Point-Demand and against the Agartala Conspiracy Incident, as she understood how to establish popular awareness.

“My mother knew well how to drum up public opinion and wage movement through strengthening the party. Especially, she (Bangamata) had played the key role in waging student movement of that time,” she said.

From Bangladesh Shishu Academy premises, Awami League Presidium Member and former Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury delivered a keynote paper highlighting the life and works of Bangamata Sheik Fazilatunnesa Mujib.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira presided over the function.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs Ministry Meher Afroze and Women and Children Affairs Secretary Kazi Rowshan Akhter also spoke on the occasion.

Prime Minister Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, AL Publicity Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Prime Minister Ihsanul Karim, among others, were from Ganabhaban while PMO (Prime Minister 's Office) officials from their office.

A documentary was screened highlighting the life and works of Bangamata.

The prime minister distributed Taka 26 lakh — Taka 2,000 each — to 1,300 distressed women in the electronic media as per the enrolment of beneficiaries provided by the deputy commissioners of 64 districts.

Remaining linked from Gopalganj, its Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shahida Sultana, on behalf of the Prime Minister, distributed 3200 sewing machines to 3200 women and 100 laptops among the needy, well-deserved district students.

Born on August 8, 1930, in the village of Tungipara in Gopalganj, Bangamata was violently killed by the assassins of the Father of the Nation on the fateful night of August 15 , 1975.