FM for creating brighter, peaceful world inspired by Bangabandhu's values

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday called upon all to work in partnership and collaboration being inspired by Bangabandhu to create a brighter,  peaceful and sustainable world for all leaving hatred and intolerance behind. 

"Let's work together in collaboration and cooperation being inspired by Bangabandhu and his love for people," he said.

Dr Momen made the remarks while addressing a discussion "15th August And Its Aftermath" moderated by Special Assistant to Prime Minister Barrister Shah Ali Farhad.

Chairman, Bangladesh Awami Jubo League Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash was the keynote speaker at the discussion. 

Chairman, AL International Affairs Sub Committee, Muhammad Zamir, AL International Affairs Secretary Dr. Shammi Ahmed and diplomats from various Missions stationed in Dhaka were present. 

Ambassadors, High Commissioners and representatives of over 40 countries including India, China, UK and Germany took part in the discussion hosted by AL International Affairs Sub Committee.

A booklet titled: "The Darkest Night and Its Aftermath" was virtually unveiled during the discussion and hard copies will also be shared with all Foreign Missions in Dhaka. 

Dr Momen said Bangabandhu's dream of Sonar Bangla and peaceful Asia can be achieved if they can truly honor the sacrifice and contributions of Bangabandhu. 

Describing reasons behind Bangabandhu's popularity, he said it is because of his love for people, sensitivity to people's need and he always stood for exploited people when the world is divided by two groups- exploiters and who are exploited. 

"He always stood for justice and he's loved by the people," said the Foreign Minister. 

Dr Momen said Bangabandhu knew his country very well and his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina knows well too.

The Foreign Minister said Bangabandhu promoted secularism and there must not be any discrimination. "And the good news is that till today Bangladesh is a land of religious harmony and a peaceful land for all religions faiths."

Dr Momen said Bangabandhu was in jail again and again as he fought for and demanded basic rights of the people. 

Jubo League Chairman Parash described the difficult times of 1975 and next few years and his never ending search for his mother and father. 

He described how they crossed the border and took shelter in Kolkata. "We found many relatives there but my mother and father were found nowhere."

Parash said they spent almost three years in Kolkata with disruption of their schooling. 

On the return home of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said their leader worked very hard from dawn to dask to organize the party and seek justice.

"I observed her struggle. We never thought we would get justice. But we noticed that she (Hasina) didn't give up her hope in organizing the party. She visited door to door seeking justice," Parash ssid describing those painful and struggling days. 

On August 15 in 1975, the Greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members was brutally assassinated. 

Eighteen members of the Father of the Nation's family including Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three sons-Captain Sheikh Kamal, Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal and 10-year old Sheikh Russel, two daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Abu Naser, peasant leader Abdur Rab Serniabat, youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and his pregnant wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu, among others, were also killed by the heinous killers on that fateful night. 

Bangabandhu's Military Secretary Brigadier General Jamil was also murdered. 

Several members of a family died in the capital's Mohammadpur area by artillery shells fired by the killers on the same day. 

Marking the 21st August, the sub committee launched a short video portraying the atrocities "inflicted by the then BNP-led regime" with the grisly grenade attack at a rally led by Sheikh Hasina, besides shedding light on the saga of how the then state organs swooped on to provide shelter to the perpetrators.