They forgot whose daughter I am

Accusing Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad, and Khaleda Zia of patronising the killers of Bangabandhu only to hurt her, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh would continue to move ahead braving all the conspiracies.

"Despite many conspiracies, the country is moving ahead and will continue to do so as there've been many sacrifices by the people, Awami League leaders and workers, and the sacrifices and devotion of the father of the nation and my mother...," she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said this while addressing a memorial meeting on the August 15 killings, at the capital's Krishibid Institution Auditorium, which was organised by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).

After the August 15 assassinations, the killers and the opponents of the country's independence never thought that the remaining members of the father of the nation's family would ever come to power, Hasina said.

She alleged that former president Ziaur Rahman who had grabbed power illegally after 1975 violating the constitution and former military ruler HM Ershad and BNP chief Khaleda Zia patronised Bangabandhu's killers.

They even gave space for the killers in parliament, she said. "Why? Because they wanted me to give me pain so that I break down. But they failed to understand whose daughter I am."

The prime minister said now Bangladesh was a role model of development, and it did not happen overnight or without any effort. "Bangladesh is moving ahead as AL has been able to be there in office for successive terms tackling many adverse situations."

Hasina said it was the most important thing in the life of a politician to love the country, work for the country's welfare and its people, make any kind of sacrifice, and have the courage and guts to take any risk.c

She also asked each and every BCL member to get educated properly so that they could build the nation and take the future leadership.

"Right education is very much necessary as we've already seen that an uneducated leadership can do much harm to the country -- we saw Bangladesh plunged into terrorism, militancy, looting and money laundering (during the tenure of BNP-Jamaat)."

Referring to the remarks of Bangabandhu on BCL that the history of BCL is the history of the Bengalees, Hasina advised the BCL leaders and workers not to forget these words.

"I'll ask all the BCL leaders and workers to continue to take proper education, and there will be no progress if there is no peace. I want peaceful environment prevails in the country so that we can move towards prosperity..."

Hasina said whenever any natural disaster hit the country she always motivated the leaders and workers of AL and its other associate organisations to stand beside the affected people for the cause of humanity.

"This is the duty of AL and was also the ideology of the father of the nation. You'll have to remain prepared with this ideology of Bangabandhu."

Recalling the role of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib in the life of Bangabandhu, Hasina, their eldest daughter, said the father of the nation could work for the country without any interference since her mother made huge sacrifices.

Earlier, a minute of silence was observed remembering the martyrs of August 15 and the August 21 grenade attack.

The prime minister also unveiled the cover of a publication of BCL.

Chaired by BCL president Saifur Rahman Sohagh, the meeting was conducted by its general secretary SM Zakir Hossain.

AL general secretary Obaidul Quader was present on the occasion.