Bangabandhu was killed to destroy Bangladesh as independent state: Hasan
Bangladesh would have become an example of prosperity and development before the world much earlier if Bangabandhu were alive
Terming the assassination of Bangabandhu as the most heinous crime against humanity in the globe, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the gruesome killing was perpetrated on August 15, 1975 not only to kill an individual Bangabandhu or his family members but to destroy Bangladesh and its independence under an atrocious design.
"Khandaker Mostaq and other plotters who didn't want the independence and gave proposal to form a confederation with Pakistan during the Liberation War, perpetrated the killing," he said, addressing a discussion at the auditorium of Awami League Central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.
Bangladesh Mohila Sromik League (MSL) organised the discussion marking the National Mourning Day with its president Suraiya Akther in the chair.
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At the beginning of his speech, the information minister paid rich tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, most of his family members who were killed on the fateful night on August 15, 1975 and the martyrs of the August 21, 2004 gruesome grenade attack.
Hasan said Bangladesh would have become an example of prosperity and development before the world much earlier if Bangabandhu were alive, and the world community would have heard the success stories of Bangladesh before Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. But he didn't get the opportunity, he added.
He said Bangabandhu was leading the country on the path of prosperity after bringing back one crore homeless people from India. And there were another two crore refugees inside the country, the communication system was collapsed and the country's foreign reserve was zero, he added.
The information minister said when Bangabandhu was assassinated in 1975, the country's GDP growth was 7.4 percent. "Even after 40 years of his assassination, we could not exceed that growth rate. Bangladesh exceeded the GDP growth in fiscal 2016-17 under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina," said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
He said the country was enlisted in the list of least developed countries after fulfilling required indicators just after independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu.
Hasan said there were additional 10,000 metric tons of food grains in 1975. Returning home just after the independence of the country, Bangabandhu had devoted himself to the nation-building tasks but the architect of independent Bangladesh could not materialise his dream, he added.
He said Zia enacted the indemnity ordinance in Parliament in 1979, so that the killers of Bangabandhu were not tried. Begum Khaleda Zia had done the same work in 2002 for not holding trials of killings of about hundred people in the name of 'Operation Clean Heart', said Hasan.
Even, they tried to change our national flag and national anthem and proposed to form a confederation with Pakistan, he said. They had also changed the name of Bangladesh Betar, Hasan said, adding that all of these steps were parts of running an independent state.
The information minister said Bangladesh is now moving ahead indomitably under the leadership of Bangabandhu's worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to materialize the dream of the Father of the Nation.
About women empowerment, Hasan said Bangladesh has set a unique example before the world in regard to women's progress in every sector of the society. It was beyond one's thought that today women have become judges, secretaries and army generals, he added.
He said the premier has made it mandatory to mention the mother's name in the identity card of a child. On the other hand, BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia brought improvement for herself and her dresses, but didn't take effective steps for the development of women when she was in power, Hasan said.
AL's Women Affairs Secretary Meher Afroz Chumki, MP, and Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua addressed the meeting as special guests.
Executive president of the organisation Shamsun Nahar, MP, read out an obituary reference while general secretary Kazi Rahima Akther conducted it.
Earlier, the information minister joined the namaz-e-janaza of eminent journalist Rahat Khan on the premises of Jatiya Press Club (JPC).
Later, the information minister joined a reception of freedom fighters organized by Dhaka City north unit Muktijuddha Mancha at an auditorium of JPC this evening.
Speaking at the function, Hasan said the conspirators killed Bangabandhu after failing to face him politically. Even now, the intriguers who have failed to face Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina politically and who cannot tolerate the popularity of the Prime Minister and indomitable pace of development, are out to hatch conspiracies, he added.
The information minister urged all to remain alert against all conspirators.
AL leaders freedom fighter MA Kashem, Sabina Akther, Tuhin, Mohila AL law affairs secretary Rokeya Begum, Mahabubur Rahman Hiron, central committee president of the organization Aminul Islam Bulbul and general secretary Al Mamun, among others, addressed the function.
President of the organisation Ahmed Hasnain presided over the function while joint secretary Rupam Barua conducted it.
