Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked party leaders not to allow "infiltrators" into Bangladesh Awami League (AL), saying that the party's image will be tarnished due to their misdeeds. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing a virtual discussion marking the National Mourning Day, arranged by Awami League’s Dhaka city north and south units, by joining the function from her official residence Gono Bhaban as the chief guest, on August 30, 2020. Photo: PID

"When any (party) remains in power, some people show up (to join the party) from different sides. After making their way in, they resort to misdeeds, and then the party has to bear the brunt," she said at a discussion marking National Mourning Day.

AL Dhaka city north and south units arranged the virtual discussion. Sheikh Hasina, also the AL president, joined the function from her official residence Gono Bhaban as the chief guest. Other leaders were connected from the AL central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.

Sheikh Hasina said this is why she warned party leaders and activists in the beginning of her tenure not to allow those who come from political parties founded by military dictators and those who were with war criminals.

"Because, if they join in, they harm the party and resort to killing our committed leaders and activists. The incidents are seen as 'infighting'. But when observed closely, it's apparent that these incidents are carried out by those who had suddenly joined the party," she added.

Sheikh Hasina said the infiltrators behave so amicably that many party leaders take them in to strengthen their groups. "Bringing them in is detrimental for us," she cautioned.

Noting that Awami League is only the party in Bangladesh that is well organised all the way to the grassroots level, with a huge follower base and public support, she asked party leaders and activists to build the party based on traditional ideology.

Referring to Ziaur Rahman, she said those who come to power by promulgating the Marshal Law Ordinance can't ensure democracy. But many intellectuals and dignitaries are "searching for democracy in military regime or state of emergency", she added.

Sheikh Hasina said that those who grabbed power abruptly hire "flatterers" and they (a section of intellectuals) remain ready to be used.

She also said it is now clear that Zia had been involved in the assassination of the Father of the Nation as he had provided all sorts of assistance to them.

Mentioning names of the killers, she questioned who could have encouraged them? She said particularly Col Rashid and Faruk in interviews with BBC, and different foreign newspapers and news agencies also confessed that Ziaur Rahman had been with them and they received assistance from him.