Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud yesterday said the arrest could not stop Sheikh Hasina from raising her voice against injustice and irregularities.
“Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was arrested without a warrant in the early morning of July 16, 2007, as the then military-backed caretaker government itself was involved in injustice and corruption…. A sick wife was arrested due to her husband’s crime, a minor child was arrested due to the crime of father and thus democracy was chained,” he said.
The minister stated these while addressing a discussion organised by Swapna Foundation marking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Imprisonment Day at an auditorium of Jatiya Press Club here.
Hasan said political leaders were under surveillance and even public meetings, as well as rallies, were stopped during the military-backed government.
“And that time Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina was the lone uncompromising barrier, who protested against all injustice, wrongdoings, and corruption of the 1/11 government,” he added.
He said the protest of Bangabandhu’s daughter could not be stopped despite arresting her.
“We had been able to free Bangabandhu’s daughter from prison on June 11, 2008, due to the leadership of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and her representative late leader Zillur Rahman, who united all the party men,” he continued.
“BNP didn’t carry out any movement after the arrest of Begum Zia. She (Khaleda Zia) was freed through our movement,” he added.
Speaking about contemporary politics, the minister said the politics of BNP is no longer in the field as now they are visiting foreign embassies at night and doing parties.
“I would like to urge the BNP to go to the mass people instead of visiting foreign embassies at night. You did it in 2014 and 2018 also. But there is no benefit. This time there will also be no benefit,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
According to a report of the IMF, he said, the position of Bangladesh’s economy is 41st among the 50 countries in the world. The economy of Bangladesh will be larger in 2025, he added.
He said the per capita income of Bangladesh has also increased leaving behind India even during the COVID-19 situation. But BNP and some groups are praying that when the country (Bangladesh) would be Sri Lanka, Hasan added.
AL deputy publicity secretary Aminul Islam Amin, AL Dhaka city south unit president valiant freedom fighter Abu Ahmed Mannafi, and general secretary Humayun Kabir, among others, addressed the discussion as special guests with the foundation president Riaz Uddin Riaz in the chair.
