There are still people in the country who are subservient to Yahya and their collaborators are still active, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
We need to be careful about them, she said yesterday while addressing a discussion organized by Chhatra League at Suhawardy Udyan in the capital. It was organized to mark the 39th death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who along with other family members were assassinated on August 15, 1975.
Hasina, also the Awami League president, said: “Those who had a hand in the August 15 and August 21 killings still want to destroy the country’s independence and impede the prosperity.”
She said Ziaur Rahman established a reign of terror following the killing of Bangabandhu.
“He [Zia] brought back the perpetrators and returned the al-Badr men their voting rights through military orders,” Hasina said.
Speaking of the March 7 speech of Bangabandhu, the premier said: “Before delivering the speech, my mother told my father that thousands of people would be in front of him and he would lead them by saying what he had in mind.”
“The speech inspired the countrymen. It has been branded as one of the best speeches in the history of 2,500 years,” she said.
Hasina said Bangabandhu formed Chhatra League in 1948 for establishing Bangla as the state language.
“Chhatra League was involved in every movement that helped the country achieve independence. That is why Bangabandhu said Chhatra League is the history of the Bangalees,” she said.
Referring to Chhatra League activists, she said they have to be in politics with a mentality to sacrifice.
“The history did not remember those who joined politics driven by the greed for wealth, and those who will do so in the future will face the same fate,” the prime minister said.
She suggested that Chhatra League men strengthen the organisation.
Hasina talked about her role in restoring democracy in the country from the rule of the previous army-backed caretaker government. She said she was able to restore democracy in 2009 but the conspiracy for destroying the democratic practice was still on.
“Efforts were made to foil the 10th parliamentary polls and destroy democracy. However, the election was held and we were able to form the government,” the prime minister said.
Communication Minister Obaidul Quader, Chhatra League leader Siddiqui Nazmul Alam and several others addressed the programme chaired by Chhatra League president HM Bodiuzzaman Shohag.