Hasina vows to build hunger-free ‘Sonar Bangla’

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the debt of Bangabandhu’s blood would have to be repaid by materialising his dream of building a poverty and hunger-free “Golden Bangladesh”.

“We’ll build that Golden Bangladesh and this is our pledge,” she said.

The PM was addressing a programme organised by the Awami League at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, marking the National Mourning Day and 44th death anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Hasina said although the Father of the Nation was no more, his ideals still remain intact.

She said the August 15 massacre was not only a brutal assassination of a family, but also a conspiracy against the independence and Liberation War of the country.

“The impatient attitude of a section of people caused great sufferings for Bangabandhu just after the Liberation War,” she added.

She also said this impatient attitude caused a great loss to the country and ultimately helped the anti-liberation forces and conspirators assume power.

“Some political leaders at that time couldn’t realise that the conspiracy of the anti-liberation forces would continue after the independence of the country,” she said.

She said military dictator Ziaur Rahman did not allow her to return home for six years.

“It was gradually established that the aim of the August 15 killing was to put the anti-liberation forces into the state power.”

The PM said as Zia was made the army chief just after the August 15 carnage as he was trusted by killer Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed.

At the outset of the meeting, a one-minute silence was observed in memory of Bangabandhu and other victims of the August 15 carnage.