Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on yesterday said the government would not allow anyone to play with the fate of people of the country.
“Many have conspired against the country but failed. Nobody will be allowed to play with the fate of Bangladeshi people,” said Hasina, also the president of the Awami League.
The premier was addressing a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan organised by her party to mark the historic March 7.
On March 7, 1971 the founding father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave his epoch-making speech at the Dhaka’s Race Course Maidan – now the Suhrawardy Udyan. His fiery speech led the nation to the decisive struggle for independence.
The prime minister on Friday arrived at the rally venue around 4:30pm. Thousands of party leaders and activists thronged the venue.
In her speech the premier urged the people to remain united to resist the evil forces saying the country would be built in line with the spirit of Liberation War.
Expressing firm commitment in building a hunger and poverty free country the premier said: “Bangladesh is marching forward and this forward march will continue to go on.”
“Bangladesh will turn into a middle-income country by 2021,” she asserted. She said that BNP chief Khaleda Zial was looking for excuse to go for an agitation.
Referring to Khaleda Zia’s meeting with AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury on Wednesday the AL president said Khaleda was now completely depended on those whom she had driven out of the party.
Hinting at US Ambassador’s several meetings with Khaleda Zia, Hasina said after being refused by countrymen she was trying to persuade outsiders to do something in her favour.
The Awami League president accused BNP chief Khaleda Zia of killing people in the name of movement.
“How much blood does she need to quench her thirst? I do not know how much blood of the people would please her thirst,” she said.
Pointing to pre and post-poll violence unleashed by the BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami Hasina said the movement of the BNP means killing people. “The real faces of the BNP and Jamaat have been exposed.”
“The BNP leader has asked the people several times to join the movement but nobody has responded to her call,” she said.
The premier also accused the BNP leader of hurling grenades on 21th August to kill her.
Several thousands of activists carrying banner and festoons thronged the venue from the morning. Party lawmakers from around the capital also joined the rally with their followers.
AL leaders including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Mahbubul Alam Hanif, among others, addressed the rally with Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair.
On the occasion of the historic March 7 Sheikh Hasina with her cabinet members and party central leaders placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi in the morning.
Besides Dhaka City AL, Juba League, Swechhasebak League, Jatiya Sramik League, Mahila AL, Juba Mahila League, Krishak League, Chhatra League and other social, cultural and professional bodies also placed floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
