PM: Mother was the key force behind Six-Points Movement

Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, the wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, played an extraordinary role in the political career of her husband, the prime minister has said. Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Sheikh Mujib and Fazilatunnesa, was speaking at an event organised by Bangladesh Chhatra League at Krishibid Institute auditorium on Thursday. “Every time my father had to go to jail, my mother never lost her spirit. She kept him away from all the daily problems of the family, and was closely involved with the party,” Hasina said. Fazilatunnesa had a connection with Chhatra League, she said. “My mother built up the entire Six-point Movement and supported all my father's decisions.” The prime minister said her mother would help the party and many leaders with money, selling valuables from her own home to pay for groceries. “Among those leaders was the traitor Khandaker Mostaq,” she added. “My mother never raised any demands to my father. It was because of her sacrifices that he was able to work towards specific goals, bring our freedom and build this nation,” Hasina said. It was because of her mother's encouragement that Bangabandhu wrote regularly when in jail, she said. “My mother supplied him with those copies in jail and insisted on writing, and because of that we have been blessed with so much historical information. More writings will be published soon,” she added. Sheikh Hasina said there was a major debate in the party about adding two more demands to the six points. “Leaders came over from Pakistan. The thing about Awami League is that the grass roots always makes the right call, but when that decision moves upstairs it becomes a mess. Back then, many senior leaders were pushing for eight points. But my mother was adamant that there should be no change to Bangabandhu's six points. “Chhatra League and the party grass roots were on her side. Later in a meeting it was decided that the six points will remain unchanged.” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu's politics was for the people of this nation. “People abandon their parties for a minister's post, but Bangabandhu left a post for his party. This is a lesson for all of us,” she said.This article was first published on Bangla Tribune