Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, in fact, the democracy was confined through arresting Bangabandhu’s daughter and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on July 16 in 2007.
“The July 16 is not only the imprisonment day of Bangabandhu’s daughter and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it is also the democracy confinement day. And democracy was released through releasing her on June 11, 2008,” he said.
The minister stated these yesterday while addressing a discussion organised by Awami League Chattogram city unit marking the imprisonment day of Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Chattogram Theatre Institute here.
AL city unit general secretary and former mayor AJM Nasir Udiin, vice president Noeem Uddin Chowdhury and Advocate Ibrahim Hossain Chowdhury Babul, among others, addressed the discussion with acting president Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury in the chair.
Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has no need the power, but Bangladesh needs her for reaching the state to its destination as dreamt by Bangabandhu and the country’s Freedom Fighters (FFs). The country could reach the aim if the politics of holding hostage people, spreading confusion and negative politics would be stopped, he added.
The minister urged all to resist those persons who are doing such types of politics.
He said the then military-backed caretaker government arrested Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina without warrant as she was the lone uncompromising barrier of all injustice, wrongdoings and corruption of the 1/11 government. In fact, the day (July 16) is not only the imprisonment day of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it is also the democracy confinement day, and democracy was chained, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
The minister said the military-backed caretaker government took the power by talking against corruption and irregularities. And generally, it seemed that they would take actions against BNP-Jamaat who made the country champions in corruption for five consecutive times, conducted a parallel government through establishing ‘Hawa Bhaban’, made the country a heaven of terrorism and militancy, he added.
But, he said, the countrymen were astonished when the government (caretaker government) was involved in corruption and irregularities.
He said, “An official of Begum Khaleda Zia’s personal wing had called me after the arrest of Bangabandhu’s daughter and told me that ‘our madam could also be arrested and it will be better if we can do something together. I replied to him that this decision must be made by the party. And I thought that it would not be appropriate as we were doing movement against BNP’s irregularities, injustice and corruption also. And the reality is that the BNP leaders and activists didn’t carry out any movement.”
Even, the minister said, many leaders of AL also had changed their tone. But the root level leaders and activists were in together and respected leader Zillur Rahman was able to keep all united along with his skill and discretion, he added.
Hasan said Zillur Rahman was the source of inspiration of all leaders and activists of AL when Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina was in jail. Sheikh Rehana and Sajeeb Wazed Joy were with him (Zillur Rahman), he added.
The minister said all leaders and activists of AL were in together across the country and they carried out strong mass movement for releasing AL President Sheikh Hasina. And the followers of Bangabandhu and her daughter also carried out movements and presented the scenario of Bangladesh before the world community, he added.
