March 27,2011 Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today castigated the main opposition BNP for its move to describe President Ziaur Rahman as the declarer of the country's independence saying that only the leader who earned the people's mandate had the right to proclaim independence.  She said mere reading out the message of independence by a person does not mean that he was the declarer of independence as it requires many things, including taking preparations, before proclamation of independence. "If Zia is the declarer of independence, how could he suspend the trial of war criminals and rehabilitate them in the country's politics," she questioned while taking part in a discussion here this afternoon. Bangladesh Awami League organised the discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) marking the Independence and National Day-2011. Sheikh Hasina said Ziaur Rahman, after assuming power, had freed 11,000 war criminals who were detained on charges of rape, killing and arson during the country's War of Liberation in 1971 and rehabilitated them in politics and made them members of parliament and even ministers. Sheikh Hasina said it was Zia, the founder of BNP, who also distorted the country's history and took a total move to erase the name of Awami League from the country. The Prime Minister said President Ziaur Rahman killed hundreds of freedom fighter military officers although he came to power banking on the army. "He (Zia) did it so that the armed forces could not stand as a strong force in independent Bangladesh," she added. Mentioning the Colonel Taher case, Sheikh Hasina said it is easily understandable how cunning Ziaur Rahman was. He (Zia) did not hesitate to kill his close friend Taher who saved his (Zia's) life, she added. She said Ziaur Rahman took corruption and nepotism as his policy and did all to destroy achievements of independence as he did not want that the fruits of independence reach the doorsteps of the people. Referring to the recently approved Women Development Policy, the Prime Minister said a vested interest group has been spreading misleading information relating religion with the policy in a bid to gain political interest. She categorically said that her government never formulated any act in the past that goes against the Quran and Sunnah and will not frame such act in future. "We are working to smoothen and securing the life of people and improving their living standards as it is our responsibility," she added. |
March 27,2011 Awami League General Secretary and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday said the government's aim is to free the nation from stigma by holding trial of war criminals and all killings. Talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the National Martyrs Memorial in Savar, Ashraf said trial of war criminals including all killers, collaborators, Al Badar and Al Shams would start soon in a transparent way during this government's tenure. We are hopeful to accomplish the trial by this tenure of the government. He said it took time to bring Bangabandhu's killers to justice in a transparent manner and it is taking time to hold trial of war criminals due to the same reason. On a query, Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker said the government is pledged-bound to accomplish the trial of war criminals quickly. By now, he said, much of the spirit of the Liberation War has been implemented. The people are now able to speak about the trial of war criminals openly, which was not possible in the past, Khandaker said terming it as the biggest success of the government. |
March 26,2011 The nation is observing the 40th Independence and National Day in befitting manner and amid various programs on Saturday. This day in 1971, the unarmed valiant Bengalis of the then East Pakistan burst into a flame to resist the Pakistani occupation forces, who unleashed the worst genocide in the world's history to suppress them. The victory was achieved on December 16 after a nine-month bloody war and supreme sacrifice of 3 million martyrs, agonies of two lakh women and sufferings of millions of people. The capital wore a festive look, in a solemn mood, as lots of cultural functions are being held and the historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman played all around. President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed wreaths at the National Martyrs Memorial in Savar paying rich tribute to the martyrs. The president was the first to place a wreath at the altar of the memorial at 5:58am. The prime minister followed him. After placing the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the Great War of Liberation in 1971. The bugle played the last post and a smartly turned out contingent of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force presented state salute on the occasion. The speaker, chief justice, deputy speaker, ministers, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers, chief whips, members of the parliament, chiefs of three services, Dhaka City Corporation mayor, diplomats, high civil and military officials, freedom fighters, other dignitaries and senior leaders of Awami League were present. Sheikh Hasina along with the senior leaders of Bangladesh Awami League placed another wreath at the National Memorial on behalf of her party. The president signed the visitor's book at the mausoleum. Earlier on his arrival at the national memorial premises, President Zillur Rahman was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Deputy Leader of the Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain (retd) ABM Tajul Islam. From National Memorial, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Road 32 Dhanmondi where chief architect of independence, greatest Bengali of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family members was assassinated on the fateful night of August 15 in 1975. The prime minister, elder daughter of Bangabandhu, stayed some time inside the museum. Later, she placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of the museum marking the Independence and National Day. Sheikh Hasina along with the senior leaders of Bangladesh Awami League also placed a wreath at the portrait as the chief of her party. The ministers, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers, members of the parliament and senior leaders of Awami League were present. Thousands of freedom-loving people of all ages are rushing to the mausoleum paying their glowing tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives to free the Bengalis from the repressive Pakistani rule in 1971. |
Awami League taken elaborate programs to celebrate the day March 26,2011 The nation celebrates the 41st Independence and National Day today with a fresh vow to uphold the spirit of the War of Liberation and materialize the dreams of the valiant freedom fighters by building a happy and prosperous Bangladesh. The day carries special significance this year as the country is going to observe the 40th anniversary of independence, while the government has started the trial process of war criminals for their heinous crimes committed during the War of Liberation. Every year, March 26 brings with it the most tragic reminiscence of the history's blackest episode that heralded a nine-month bloody ordeal from the night following the March 25, 1971 in achieving the long-cherished independence on December 16 the same year at the cost of a sea of blood. In the wake of the military crackdown, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who became the undisputed leader of the then Pakistan following the massive victory of his party Awami League in the 1970 general elections, declared Independence of Bangladesh through the then EPR wireless at 00-30 hours on March 26 (the night following March 25) in 1971 at his historic 32 No. Dhanmondi residence here. The great leader also called upon the people to build a strong resistance against the Pakistani barbaric forces. The Pakistani military junta in a bid to stop the legitimate movement of the Bangalees arrested Bangabandhu on that night following his declaration of Independence. Later, Bangabandhu was taken to the then West Pakistan where he had to spend long nine months in a dark condemned cell of a Pakistani jail. Bangabandhu wrote down the declaration of independence soon after the Pakistani army cracked down on the night of March 25, 1971. The declaration was soon put on air by wireless. The declaration was first broadcast by Chittagong Awami League leader MA Hannan from Kalurghat radio station in Chittagong on March 26, 1971. However, very few people heard that broadcast from the only 10- kilowatt transmitter. The Pakistani military junta in their monstrous outburst unleashed a bloody holocaust breaking the silence of the night following March 25 in 1971 when they mercilessly killed innocent Bangalees including students, police, soldiers, pedestrians and rickshaw-pullers here. The nation soon launched the War of Liberation at the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the early hours of March 26 |
March 26,2011 As Bangladesh recalled today the nightmarish memories of black night, a former Pakistani military officer tasked to arrest Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman revealed in his memoirs how he carried out his job on that night (March 25). "Remember, he (Bangabandhu) is to be taken alive and I will hold you personally responsible, if he is killed," recalled ex- brigadier general Zahir Alam Khan as he received orders from the then Pakistani army chief General Abdul Hamid Khan on March 24 in Dhaka. Bangabandhu was picked up from his 32 Dhanmondi residence at midnight while the then army colonel Zahir Alam was in command of a commando unit as he carried out the order of his high-ups under the supervision of the then general Rao Farman Ali. In his book "The Way It Was" Alam recalled several years after the incident that in line with the plan he chalked up to accomplish the task he divided his troops into three groups. A 25-member team led by Captain Sayeed was to barricade the roads in front of Bangabandhu's house. The team was told to take measures in particular so that none could slip into the residence of Japanese consul, opposite 32 Dhanmondi. Another 25-member team led by Captain Humayun was given the responsibility to cordon off Bangabandhu's house and the third team of 12 members led by Major Billal was to search all the floors of the house. He said under the plan the operation began after 12 midnight but at 10 pm, Captain Humayun reported that the roads were barricaded and at 11 pm, the convoy led by Zahid started proceeding from Tajgaon Airport by the side of MNA Hostel towards Mohammadpur. According to the memoirs, the troops entered Bangabandhu's house as per the plan while he issued orders to open fire that prompted some people on the compound of the house to open the gate and they started running away. "One was killed. The police on duty in front of the house jumped into the lake. There was dead of night all around," he recalled. The search party entered the house. One of the guards of the house attacked a soldier with an indigenous weapon "da" and "the guard was shot but not killed". None was found on the ground floor. The rooms on the first floor were open but none was there. One room was closed from inside. |
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