The Awami League General Secretary, Syed Ashraful Islam, yesterday  iterated his call to party leaders and activists to be vigilant, so that the horrific incident that shook the nation 40 years ago on August 15 does not take place again. “Were the Army, Navy, police forces, intelligence agencies not there in 1975? Our party, the Awami League, was in power. But even then the world’s most heinous killings took place. We have to see to it that such an incident does not recur. For this, we have to be alert,” he said.
He was addressing a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Awami Sechchasebok League, marking the 40th death anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the Bangabhaban in the city. Organisation president Mollah Abu Kawsar chaired the discussion.
Ashraf, who is also the public administration minister, raised the question whether his party leaders and workers are capable of tackling a similar incident. “Are we prepared to tackle another August 15-like incident? Think about it deeply…     May Allah bless our Premier Sheikh Hasina,” he said. He also called upon the party men to remain united and strengthen the organisation. He said they (party leaders) should not be in politics only for making money. “You should refrain from doing anything that tarnishes the party's image.”