Killers Not to Be Allowed to Reign over Bangladesh Anymore: PM

Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister and leader of the Awami League, today referred to the Zia family as a murderer family because of their involvement in brutal murders on August 15, 1975, and August 21, 2004, respectively. She said that the killers would no longer be permitted to rule over Bangladesh.

"The Zia family is a murderous family. Bangladesh would no longer be under the rule of the murderers, she declared.

The AL's central office on Bangabandhu Avenue hosted a debate to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the horrifying grenade strikes on the party's anti-terrorism protest on August 21, 2004, during which the prime minister made this statement.

She also stressed the need for quick implementation of the verdict in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack cases in which 22 Awami League (AL) leaders and workers were killed and over 1000 others were injured, 500 of them seriously.

She continued that the trial in the August 21 grenade attack cases has already been completed and its verdict has also been delivered.

"The verdict should be implemented quickly," she said, adding that some of the killers are now in jails while the mastermind of the heinous attacks Tarique Rahman is now abroad.

Tarique went abroad giving a bond (of not doing politics) with stealing thousands crore money and is now talking against the country using the facilities of Digital Bangladesh made by her government, she said.

"The people of Bangladesh will not spare him (Tarique)," she said, adding, "If he has any courage, then he comes back to Bangladesh".

The premier said the BNP-Jamaat clique had tried to erase the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his Historic March 7 Speech, Joy Bangla Slogan and the spirit of the Liberation War.

"But, they (BNP) could not root out the spirit of the Liberation War. The people now can know the true history of the war," she said.

Despite the BNP-Jamaat tried to kill her several times, the people of the country voted her party to power time and again to serve them, Sheikh Hasina said.

The prime minister alerted the countrymen against the killers so they never can torture and kill the people through arson terrorism and inhuman repression.

"Be alert as the killers, miscreants, arms smugglers, money launders and bribe takers can not play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people," she said, calling upon them to show hatred to the killers.

The prime minister reiterated her commitment to work for changing the fate of the people by giving them an improved and decent life as the almighty Allah saved her from many attacks on her life since her return to the country in 1981.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has turned around due to massive development works of her government and got global honour, she said, "We are making a commitment today that Bangladesh will march ahead with dignity."

Earlier, the prime minister paid homage to the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attacks by placing wreath at the altar built in memory of the martyrs in front of the party's central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here. Then, flanked by senior leaders of AL, Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the martyrs by placing another wreath there on behalf of her party.

Obaidul Quader, MP, the general secretary of the AL and minister of roads, bridges, and transportation, gave the welcoming remarks, and the conversation was moderated by Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, the secretary of publicity and publications.

A minute of silence was held at the beginning of the gathering as a sign of reverence for the victims of the August 15 massacre and the August 21 grenade attack.

Source: BSS