Politics with people's misery

Noor Jahan Begum, 45, (3rd from left) and Hasina Banu, 40, (5th from left) on the dais with State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon (wearing suit at right) at a public meeting at the Ramganj Hat High School ground on Thursday. PHOTO: STAR

Poor Noor Jahan and Hasina Banu, who allegedly 'fainted from starvation' at Ramganj bazaar in Sadar upazila during Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina's November 17 visit, are again at the centre of political rhetorics.

The former prime minister during her visit to different monga-affected areas of the district had nursed the two 'fainted' women and the photos were published in some national dailies.

The photos had created sensation in the country with the opposition accusing the government of "doing nothing" to save the people from starvation.

It was reported in some of the dailies that the two women fainted as they were starving for seven days though Sheikh Hasina did not make any such statement during her visit.

On Thursday at a public meeting at Ramganj Hat High School ground, Noor Jahan and Hasina Banu categorically denied that told any one that they had been starving for seven days.

"Those who said so (that we were starving for seven days) are great liars", they told the audience in presence of State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Haq Milon.

Noor Jahan, wife of late Hatem Ali Sheikh of Laxmichapa union of Sadar upazila, said that on that day (November 17 in the month of Ramadan) she was fasting and came to Ramganj to see Sheikh Hasina despite her illness. There were heavy crowds on two sides of the road and at one stage she fell down due to suffocation, fainted and trampled by many.

Hasina Banu, wife of late Jamaluddin of Tapamari union under Sadar upazila, said that she came to see Sheikh Hasina though she had stomach pain and was fasting. She also fell down and fainted due to jostling.

Noor Jahan said when she regained sense, she saw Sheikh Hasina in front of her.

She said Sheikh Hasina asked her what was her problem.

"I relied that I fell down and was trampled.

"I also told her (Sheikh Hasina) that I was sick and had chest and stomach pain."

Both of then said Sheikh Hasina gave them Tk 200 each to buy medicine.

Noor Jahan said she trades in bangles and ribbons in the village.

Hasina Banu said she maintains her family with the income of her rickshawpuller son.

Addressing the public meeting, Ehsanul Haq Milon said Sheikh Hasina came to "discover deaths like in 1974 when thousands of people died of starvation.

"Failing, she staged a street drama using Noor Jahan and Hasina Banu. But today, Noor Jahan and Hasina Banu unveiled the conspiracy to the whole nation", Milon said.

Naming local AL lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor, Milon said, "His street drama has flopped".

He told the meeting that the BNP government gave two lakh 62 thousand VGF cards in the district and allotted a huge quantity of food grains, which is the highest since independence.

He said the government has taken steps for female education.

Now employment of 60 of staff for primary schools and 30 per cent for secondary level has been ensured.

He said had the post-independence government taken pragmatic steps for female education like the present government, every family of the country would get an educated mother now.

The State Minister for Education also said students will get text books at the beginning of the next academic session.

Presided over by Sadar upzila BNP President Alamgir Sarkar, the meeting was addressed by, among others, Nilphamari district BNP General Secretory Anisul Arefen Chowdhury, upazila BNP secretary Mir Selim Frook and Mostofa Prodhan Bachchu.