She knew how to wage a movement

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib had a significant contribution to the independence of the country and all achievements during the struggle for liberation.

“My mother made the June 7 hartal [a countrywide strike in 1966 in support of the historic six-point programme] a success. She knew how to wage movement and keep the organisation united [in Bangabandhu’s absence],” she said.

The PM was addressing an event in the city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium on the occasion of the 93rd birth anniversary of Bangamata.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs arranged the event to celebrate the Bangamata’s birth anniversary and to confer the Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Padak-2023.

Bangamata was gunned down along with her husband Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most members of their family during the mayhem on August 15, 1975 at their Dhanmondi 32 residence.

Hasina said that when Bangabandhu was in jail, Bangamata used to inform him about the political situation and his organisation, Awami League. She also used to convey Bangabandhu’s instructions to the party’s leaders and workers.

“Our house was always under the surveillance of the Pakistan intelligence. My mother used to talk to leaders and convey them the instructions [of Bangabandhu] going to different places avoiding the watch of intelligence,” she said.

In this context, the PM recalled her mother’s firm stance in favour of the historic six-point demand when some leaders argued for an eight-point demand instead.

Talking about the detention of Bangabandhu in the Agartala conspiracy case, PM Hasina said her mother took a firm stance for the release of all the accused through the withdrawal of the case, not accepting a proposal for the release of only Bangabandhu on parole. “What firm morale my mother had!” she said.

She said Pakistani intelligence quizzed Bangamata as well and tried to implicate her in the case.

“My mother had an important contribution to the independence and all achievements,” she said.

The premier sought blessings from all so that she could work for the people as her father’s lifelong struggle was to change the fate of the people of this country.

“I’ve been trying to work for the people, based on what lessons I learnt from my mother and father,” said Hasina.

The PM earlier handed over Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Padak-2023 to four distinguished women and the national women’s football team for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.

The four women are Advocate Sahara Khatun (posthumous) in politics, Anima Mukti Gomes in education, Nasima Jaman Bobi in culture and sports, and Dr Senjuti Saha in research.

Hasina also inaugurated the distribution of sewing machines and donation to insolvent women throughout the country.

Some 3,000 women are receiving the donation through a financial mobile banking channel on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bangamata.