I don't care about conspiracies: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated her determination to take the country to its desired goal, saying that she does not care about any conspiracies to this end, reports BSS.

"I have been observing conspiracies since my childhood ... I don't care. I believe that as long as the almighty Allah, the people and the blessings of my parents remain with me, we could reach our desired goal," she said.

The prime minister said this when leaders of Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies came to Gono Bhaban to greet her on the occasion of her  homecoming day.

On May 17 in 1981, Hasina returned home after six years in exile following the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975.

Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana escaped the carnage as they were in Germany at that time.

Earlier, the leaders of Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies greeted the prime minister by presenting bouquets and chanting slogans.

Meanwhile, UNB adds: Referring to the killing of Bangabandhu along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975, Hasina said, "I don't want anyone to lose all of their near and dear ones in a single day like us because it's very hard to express such pain." She also said Ziaur Rahman had a part in the conspiracy.

Hasina said the motive behind the August 15 killing was to completely change the history of Bangladesh and make the victory of the Liberation War meaningless.

She said just before 15 days of the August 15 massacre, she and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana went abroad on a short visit, but that “black day” of 1975 snatched everything from their lives as well as voting rights of the country's people.

An emotion-choked premier said, "He (Bangabandhu) had devoted his entire life towards changing people's fate alongside bringing the long-cherished independence. But, he was killed in our independent country, which he had never imagined."

Hasina said she and her younger sister Rehana reached Delhi on August 24 and later met then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who extended cooperation in many ways.

She also alleged Ziaur Rahman had directed not to allow them in Bangladesh and he even did not allow Rehana to renew her passport.

"After losing all near and dear ones, I came to the country for my love for people and building a hunger and poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu," she said.

She said she returned home on a stormy day when thousands of people braving inclement weather assembled at the airport to welcome her.

"…But my most beloved persons whose love I expected most were not there," she said referring to Bangabandhu and others who were assassinated on the fateful night of August 15.