National

A political conspiracy against independence

PM on killing of 4 nat’l leaders in jail

hPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the August 15 and November 3 killings proved that there was a conspiracy against the independence and the people of the country. “Vested quarters had tried to propagate that August 15 killing was an incident against a family, [but] their original objective was caught through the killing of November 3,” she said. The PM was addressing a discussion, organised by the Awami League at its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue, marking the Jail Killing Day. Hasina, also the AL president, joined the programme virtually from the Gono Bhaban. In the early hours of this day in 1975, the killers of Bangabandhu had stormed then Dhaka central jail and assassinated the four national leaders — Tajuddin Ahmad, Syed Nazrul Islam, Mansur Ali and AHM Quamruzzaman — who led the Liberation War in the absence of Bangabandhu and led the nation to victory in 1971.

The premier said the companions of those who could not accept the independence of Bangladesh and did not recognise independent Bangladesh were involved in these killings and they were the masterminds of these killings.

“It was a political conspiracy against the independence and the people of the country. It proves that their aim was to change the ideals of the Liberation War.”

Hasina said then Gen Ziaur Rahman was the right-hand man of Khandaker Mostaque Ahmed in this conspiracy.

“Killer Mostaque conspired [and] it became clear when he made General Ziaur Rahman the army chief who was with him. So, it naturally becomes clear that Ziaur Rahman was the right-hand man of Mostaque.”

She also mentioned that after these killings, the country had deviated from the spirit of the Liberation War.

The PM said it was an irony of history that killer Mostaque could not survive in power for long like Mir Zafar did. He was ousted by Zia when he proclaimed himself the chief administrator and army chief at the same time.

The main aim of Zia, HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia was to create anarchy and conflict in the country through corruption, terrorism, militancy and killings just to be in power, she added. The AL chief said her party always comes to power with people’s votes. Hasina reiterated that the drive against terrorism, militancy, drugs and corruption would continue. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also spoke at the programme from the AL central office.  A minute’s silence was observed at the beginning of the programme to show respect to all martyrs of the Language Movement, Liberation War, August 15, 1975 and other pro-democratic movements.

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