On the eve of the 41st anniversary of the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Awami League (AL) leaders demanded an impartial probe into the “conspiracy” that set the stage for the brutal killing. They also strongly pleaded that the convicted killers of the Father of the Nation be brought back to the country. AL presidium member Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin said that it is a historical fact that the then the Gana Bahini, Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami had set the grounds for Bangabandhu’s assassination. AL organising secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan said that the people of the country would never forgive those who had conspired to destroy Bangladesh by killing Bangabandhu. Demanding an impartial probe into the conspiracy, the AL leader said, “It is a historical demand to bring the culprits to book. If we can’t do so, history will not pardon us.”
AL presidium member Kazi Zafarullah, however, told this correspondent yesterday that they do not want to remember the controversial role of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) in the month of mourning. “We should remain united under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take the country forward,” he added.
AFM Bahauddin Nasim told The Independent yesterday that only Sheikh Hasina’s astute leadership and determination had made it possible to bring back some of the killers of Bangabandhu; otherwise, the trials would never have been held.
“I hate those who had paved the way for Bangabandhu’s killing, but I will not say anything against the party for the sake of our unity,” he added.
Earlier, AL general secretary and public administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam, AL presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and its organising secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim had come down heavily on the Left-leaning JSD and accused it of creating the grounds for Bangabandhu’s assassination in 1975.
In a programme, Liberation War affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque yesterday vowed to bring back the rest of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu and ensure their punishment.
He also called upon the heads of state of the countries where the fugitives are hiding to help the Sheikh Hasina government bring them to book.
The nation is all set to observe the National Mourning Day today. On this day in 1975, Bangabandhu was murdered along with most of his family members.
The other victims included his wife Fazilatunnessa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal, and Sheikh Russell and daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal.
Another 16 people—all close to Sheikh Mujib—were shot dead. Only his daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, escaped the carnage as they were in Germany.
The AL, the government, and many political, socio-economic and cultural organisations have chalked out programmes to mark the day. The country will observe a public holiday tomorrow.