Bangladesh PM Hasina criticises role of USA, Canada

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the USA, Pakistan and Canada governments were not helping Bangladesh in bringing back the convicted killers of Bangabandhu.

“It's very unfortunate that the USA and Canada have provided shelter for Bangabandhu's killers, although they are considered civilised and developed nations,” she said during a question and answer session in parliament.

Despite repeated efforts by the Bangladesh government, the killers couldn't be brought back home and the verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case couldn't be executed due to non-cooperation of the US and Canada governments, she added.

Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, however, expressed her firm resolve to bring the killers back home some day.

She said her government has information that killers Rashed Chowdhury and Moslemuddin Khan have been staying in the USA and Nur Chowdhury has been in Canada.

About the whereabouts of the other killers, she said Col Rashid and Major Dalim are reportedly in Pakistan. “But the Pakistan government never admitted it. And the country is not cooperating with Bangladesh on the matter.”

On Ziaur Rahman's role during and after the killing of Bangabandhu, she said it was “Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed and his agent Zia” who had carried out the August 15 bloodbath.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members was brutally killed on August 15, 1975.

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DHAKA

The PM informed the House that Rajuk is drawing up a 20-year strategic plan to give the capital a new look. The plan would be finalised by November.

The plan, she added, will have guidelines on the issues of traffic jam, waterlogging and housing problems, setting up of new economic zones, improved land management, and  environment and disaster management.

DHK-CTG RAIL LINK

Replying to a query from a lawmaker, Hasina said her government has taken measures to implement a project titled “Construction of Double Track Standard Gauge Railway Line from Dhaka to Chittagong via Comilla/Laksham.”

“A memorandum of understanding has been inked between the Bangladesh government and a Chinese company in this regard. Once the project is completed, passengers would be able to travel from Dhaka to Chittagong in three hours,” she added.

The PM also elaborated on her government's various steps to prevent violence against women and children, human trafficking, child marriage and road accidents.