Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared that those involved in repression and murder of children will be punished severely.
"Those who will be involved in child oppression and murder will have to embrace tough punishment," she said on Friday.
She made the remarks while addressing a discussion and award ceremony at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka on Friday, reports UNB.
Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu Kishore Parishad organized the program to observe the birth anniversary of Sheikh Russel, the youngest child of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sheikh Hasina, the eldest sister of Sheikh Russel, said the government wanted no child to be murdered, and all of them to live in a beautiful environment.
"Every child will get to live a meaningful life. That is our only aim," she said.
She said the murder of Sheikh Russel on August 15, 1975, and the enacted law to save the killers had a huge impact on the society.
"We are witnessing some incidents of inhumane oppression of children in recent times. If appropriate measures were taken at that time [after the brutal killings of August 15], at least the people would have been afraid of doing such things," she said.
Describing the recent murder of a child by his father in Sunamganj, the prime minister expressed shock and her astonishment at how a father could kill his son to frame his rivals.
"What a perverted mentality!" she said.
She held the people who came to power after August 15, 1975 responsible, as they had never thought about the country, people and the nation.
The prime minister urged the children and youths of the county to stay away from terrorism, militancy and drugs, and requested all to lead an honest life.
She said there was a hidden spirit and power in all children. "You have to build yourself. That is the best thing.”
Describing various parts of Sheikh Russel's life, Hasina said her brother had inherited a kind heart. "If he had lived, he could have done a lot for the country.”
56th birthday of Sheikh Russel observed
On Friday was the 56th birthday of Sheikh Russel. He was born on October 18, 1964 at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi in Dhaka. He was assassinated on August 15, 1975.
Russel was brutally killed along with most of his family members, including his father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, when he was a student of class four at University Laboratory School.
The day was observed in a befitting manner across the country on Friday.
The programs included milad and doa mahfils, discussions, cultural functions, processions, drawing competitions and distribution of foods among the destitute people.
Marking the day, Awami League and different socio-cultural organizations paid glowing homage to Sheikh Russel by placing wreaths at his grave at Banani Graveyard in Dhaka.
