Fight terror, build nation Prime minister tells rally marking the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu

Dhaka desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday vowed to build a Bangladesh where there will be no room for militancy and terrorism, and people irrespective of cast and creed would practice their religions peacefully.

She called upon people from all walks of life, including imams, teachers, and parents, to put up strong resistance against militancy and terrorism and educate everybody to remain on the path of peace.

Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, was addressing a mammoth rally in the historic Suhrawardy Udyan, marking the Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On January 10, 1972, Bangabandhu returned to independent Bangladesh via London and New Delhi after 290 days in captivity in Pakistan jail.

The rally was participated by hundreds of thousands of supporters, activists and leaders of the party and its front and like-minded organizations. They started to gather at the venue since morning although the rally started at 2:30 pm.

The participants, who came from different parts of Dhaka and its adjacent districts, swarmed the Suhrawardy Udyan after parading through different city streets in small processions.

Security was tight in and around the venue.

“We will turn Bangladesh into a country free of hunger and poverty as dreamt by Bangabandhu. It's our pledge on this great day,” the prime minister said in her 38-minute speech.

About militancy in the name of religion, the AL chief said Islam is a religion of peace and harmony. “Islam never teaches killing as Allah is the supreme judge and he would judge humans for good and bad deeds.”

She added, “Suicide is a big sin in Islam. But those who are unleashing terrorism in the name of religion are encouraging suicide as the best way to go to heaven. They would go to hell as Islam never permits suicide.”

The prime minister pledged that Bangladesh would celebrate the golden jubilee of independence in 2021 as a prosperous and developed nation.

“The Father of the Nation is no more among us. But he has given us independence as well as directives on building up a developed and prosperous country. Every village in Bangladesh would flourish as a town and entire Bangladesh would be a developed country.”

Had Bangabandhu been alive, Bangladesh could have been a developed nation 25 to 30 years back, she added.

Blasting BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her movement in 2013 and 2014 to foil the 10th parliamentary polls and oust the government in 2015, Hasina said Khaleda is responsible for killing people in arson attacks and BNP leaders are destined to face trial in people's court.

“The word democracy doesn't fit on the lips of BNP chief. It [BNP] is a terrorist and militant party,” she said. “People are not ready to take lessons of democracy from a killer.”

Referring to the Zia orphanage graft case, Hasina said the BNP chief has embezzled orphan's money. “You appear before court one day and then avoid for 10 more days. What does it mean? It indicates thieves are always afraid of the police.”

Hasina also criticized the BNP for its ties with Jamaat-e-Islami and said the party had established a terrorist state, hindering peace, progress, and development. “How could the party appoint war criminals as ministers of the country?”

She said as many as 231 innocent people, including 23 members of law enforcement agencies, were killed in arson attacks at the directives of the BNP chairperson while thousands suffered burn injuries.

The PM highlighted her government's success in different fields — especially reducing poverty, accelerating economic growth and increasing literacy rate and food production.

Recalling the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, Hasina, who is his eldest daughter, said the post-75 rulers tried to destroy the dreams of the Father of the Nation and always looked to Pakistan to stay in power.

“Anti-liberation forces grabbed the state power after the killing of Bangabandhu, who had initiated the trial of many war criminals. But Ziaur Rahman freed them after seizing power and made many of them advisors and ministers of his cabinet,” she said.

The rally was also addressed by AL leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, Mohammed Nasim, Obaidul Quader, Bahauddin Nasim, Sujit Roy Nandi and mayors of Dhaka Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon, among others.