Anti-liberation forces not to get people’s mandate: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said people will never give their mandate to anti-liberation forces, patrons of war criminals, corrupts and killers like BNP as they will drive the country from the path of development to destruction, reports UNB.

"The people of Bangladesh will never, ever cast their votes for these anti-liberation, corrupts, killers who killed people through arson attacks and patrons of war criminals.

They will never be able to come to power ...people won't let them return [to power]," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a discussion programme organised by Awami League marking the Great Victory Day and Martyred Intellectual Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Center.

Hasina said those who want to develop the country and people's fate, free the country from hunger and poverty will ever support those who had nurtured war criminals, made them ministers and killed innocent people through arson attacks.

"The country is now marching forward. It'll move on and emerge as the developed and prosperous one." "The people of the country are moving around the world with their heads high, InshAllah they will continue this, this is our today's promise," she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of Awami League, said the people of the country are reaping the fruits of the country's independence that they earned through the blood of tens of thousands of martyrs.

Meanwhile, the nation celebrated the 47th Victory Day paying deep homage to the Liberation War martyrs.

On this day in 1971, Pakistani occupation forces surrendered after a nine-month war resulting in free, independent and sovereign Bangladesh.

This year, the Victory Day celebrations reached a new height as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on October 30 last recognised Bangabandhu's historic 7th March Speech as a world documentary heritage.

On March 7 in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his fiery speech called on the freedom-loving Bangalis to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistani rulers.

"Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram [The struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation, the struggle this time is a struggle for independence]," Bangabandhu declared in a thunderous voice at a mammoth rally at the Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) that day.

Different political parties, socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions celebrated the day with various programmes.

As part of the programmes, a spectacular parade was held at the National Parade Square at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the morning.

Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Police, Coast Guard, Ansar, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Bangladesh National Cadet Corps participated in the parade.

President Abdul Hamid took salute and inspected the parade as the chief guest. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also present at the parade.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar with the rise of the sun.

The President and the Prime Minister laid wreaths at the monument at 6:34am and stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.

Later, flanked by senior party leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League President, laid another wreath at the National Mausoleum as the party chief.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia paid homage to the martyred freedom fighters, who made the supreme sacrifice for the country during the Liberation War in 1971 by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in the morning.

Khaleda, flanked by her party senior leaders, placed wreaths at the memorial around 11am.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia issued separate messages on the occasion.

The national flag was hoisted atop all government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places were illuminated and roads and islands decorated with flags and festoons in all cities of the country on the occasion.