The assassins killed a nation on August 15, 1975 by assassinating Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said Md Tajul Islam, Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. The minister also said that Bangabandhu dreamed of making Bangladesh the Switzerland of Asia with the soil and people of this country.
He was speaking as the chief guest on Friday at a discussion programme titled 'Bangabandhu's Political Philosophy: What to Do to Implement a Prosperous Bangladesh' organized by Bangabandhu Diploma Engineers' Council at IDEB Bhaban in the capital on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence.
The minister said Bangabandhu was the leader of the hearts of all people. He has repeatedly appealed to the Pakistani ruling class for the realization of the just rights of the Bengalis. In return, Bangabandhu had to go to jail innumerable times and endured extreme torture. Even then he never bowed down to injustice.
He further said that the top officials including the then Chief of Army staff could not avoid the responsibility of killing Bangabandhu. All those involved in the murder of the father of the nation must be brought before the people. Those who have died along with the living must be brought to justice and their identities must be revealed to the nation.
Md Tajul Islam said the people of this country have not given the right to beg from foreigners leaving the Bengali nation in poverty. But the BNP has done these things since it came to power. The ghosts of '75 have misled people in many ways. Their successors are now making that effort. He called upon the people of Bengal to remain united to thwart these conspiracies.
The Minister said that Bangabandhu started the work by creating a road map with the aim of rebuilding the ruined country and building the golden Bengal of his dreams. In just three and a half years, the country has achieved unprecedented development in all sectors. After the assassination of Bangabandhu, that trend of development stopped. The country begins a horrible chapter.
He said that in order to develop and prosper the country, all the people have to be taken along. And this policy is being followed by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Today there is a touch of development in the remote areas of the country. There is no alternative but to strengthen the hand of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to continue the trend of development.
He also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set a goal to build Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's dream nation. To reach this goal, we need an average per capita income of 12 thousand dollars. At present the income is 2 thousand 554 dollars.
Addressing the officials, assuring them of resolving the problems of the diploma engineers and meeting the reasonable demands, the minister said the ministry has instructed them to maintain the quality of work, adhere to the timeline of the project and not to build unreasonable infrastructure. Many have been fired for substandard work. Anyone who commits irregularities will not be exempted. He also said that his ministry was following the policy of reward for good deeds and reprimand for bad deeds.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, President of IDB AKMA Hamid and General Secretary Md. Shamsur Rahman addressed the function as special guests under the chairmanship of freedom fighter Md. Khabir Hossain.