Remain alert against 1975 like carnage
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the people to remain alert against 1975-like killings, coups and conspiracies that could hinder the country's progress.
"I urge the people to be alert against killings [like in 1975], coups and conspiracies in Bangladesh that can impede country's progress," she said.
The PM was addressing a programme marking the opening of the "Sheikh Russel Day" and distribution of "Sheikh Russel Gold Medal" among the winners on the 58th birthday of Sheikh Russel.
She joined the event, held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, through videoconferencing from the Gono Bhaban.
Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had enacted a law in 1974 to ensure security of the children. "How unfortunate it was that his children had to die at the hands of killers?"
She said the killers brutally murdered Russel on August 15, 1975 after killing his father, mother, brothers, and uncle as he wanted to go to his mother.
"Why was the baby killed? What was his crime? What was the crime of others? Was liberating the country a crime?" the PM questioned.
She said her government has been trying to ensure that no such incidents occur in future.
Describing the children as "the future", Hasina said, "I want everyone to perform their duties accordingly to give the children security, love and a beautiful and meaningful life."
She called upon the children to pay attention to studies as nothing is as worthy as education.
"I just want to say to the children that do your studies giving attention to it because education is the most valuable asset which will never be lost, stolen or snatched away."
She urged the guardians to encourage their children to study and take part in sports, cultural programmes and other extracurricular activities.
Recalling the mayhem after the October 2001 general elections, Hasina also the Awami League president, said the BNP-Jamaat alliance had committed genocide like the one carried out by Pakistan occupation forces during the Liberation War in 1971.
The alliance killed and tortured many AL leaders and activists and even didn't spare children, she said.
The premier said the AL government has been trying relentlessly to give the people an improved life by ensuring every fundamental right, turning Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country as envisioned by the Father of the Nation.
She greeted the winners of various competitions and distributed "Sheikh Russel Gold Medal" among 10 children in five categories -- education, sports, science and technology, fine arts-literature-culture, and children with special needs --- for their outstanding contribution to the respective fields.
Besides, laptops were distributed among 4,000 freelancers under the Learning and Earning Development Projects (LEDP) for their outstanding performance.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the function, organised by Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad.
Hasina unveiled the cover of two books – "Sheikh Russell Jhore Jawa Phul" and "Sheikh Russel Deepta Joyullas, Adommo Attabishaws".
Sheikh Russel was born on October 18, 1964 at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban on Dhanmondi road-32 in the capital.
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