Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laments for Zia’s escape of justice

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today strongly postulated slain president Ziaur Rahman’s involvement in the August 15, 1975 carnage and expressed her deep sorrow for being unable to expose him to justice.

“Zia’s consequence was inevitable (for the murder) and it’s my regret that I couldn’t hold his trial for the (August 15) assassination” as he himself was killed in a 1981 military coup, she told a discussion to mark the beginning of the month of mourning, reports BSS.

Sheikh Hasina said after grabbing power following the August 15 carnage, Zia rewarded the self-confessed killers with diplomatic assignments abroad “as he was involved in the murder”.

Bangladesh Krishak League (BKL) staged the discussion in front of Bangabandhu’s Dhanmondi 32 residence, now Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, as

part of Awami League and its associate organizations month-long mourning.

The discussion was followed by a voluntary blood donation programme commemorating Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s martyrdom 43 years ago.

The premier said the forces which were defeated in 1971, murdered Bangabandhu along with most of his family members to avenge their defeat in the Liberation War.

“They thought that there will be no existence of independence of Bangladesh after the death of the Father of the Nation,” she said. She said the assailants also thought that Bangladesh would lose its valour and pride and would emerge as sycophant of Pakistan by submitting under their rulers’ feet.

Sheikh Hasina said forces which reluctantly or incidentally joined the Liberation War without having any belief in the spirit of independence masterminded Bangabandhu’s killing.

“The elements who couldn’t accept the defeat of the Pakistani occupation forces as their cohorts and unleashed atrocities on the Banglaees by forming
Al Badar and Al Shams were (also) involved in the assassination,” she said.

Awami League Advisory Council Member Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Mohammad Nasim and Dr Abdur Razzak, Relief and Social Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laily, Barrister Fazley Noor Taposh, MP, BKL General Secretary Advocate Khandakar Shamsul Haque Reza took part in the discussion with BKL President Alhaz Motahar Hossain Mollah in the chair.

Earlier, the prime minister unveiled the cover of a BKL publication – “Krishaker Kantho”.

At the outset of the discussion, a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of profound respects to the memory of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib and other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.