Aug 15 carnage aimed to take revenge against defeat in liberation war: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday categorically said the August 15 carnage was not just a strike on a family only, but its main aim was to take revenge against the establishment of a country and state through defeating Pakistani occupation forces in the Liberation War, reports agencies.

"The massacre on August 15 was carried out on a family only, but in the true sense, it was not just on a family," she said while speaking at a blood donation programme organised by Bangladesh Krishak League on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the city marking the National Mourning Day.

The Prime Minister described the assassination of Bangabandhu along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975 as a strike against the victory of the Bangalee nation, its emergence and establishment of a state and as a revenge of the defeat of Pakistani occupation forces in the Liberation War.

"The main objective of the killing was to take revenge of the defeat in the Liberation War," she said.

In this connection, she mentioned that the massacre was carried out to ensure that the Bangalee nation would never be able to stand keeping its head always high.

"This was proved once again through the brutal killing of four national leaders, who fought the Liberation War as per the directives and planning of Bangabandhu and won it, in jail," she said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim, local MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, AL agriculture secretary Dr Abdur Razzaque and Bangladesh Krishak League general secretary Advocate Khandaker Shamshul Huq Reza also spoke at the programme with Bangladesh Krishak League president Alhaj Mohammad Motahar Hossain Mollah in the chair.

Meanwhile: The 40-day programme of the ruling Awami League to mark the Month of Mourning commemorating the 40th anniversary of martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began today with the placing of wreaths at his portrait at the capital's Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and at his mazar at Tungipara in the district.

Earlier at one-minute past zero hour, the programme of the National Mourning Day was initiated with placing of wreaths and showering of petals by central leaders of Awami League (AL), its associate and likeminded bodies and other socio-cultural-professional organisations at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.

Leaders and workers of AL and its associate bodies also took part in a candle-light vigil at midnight there as a mark of respect to Bangabandhu, the indomitable leader of the country's independence and a champion of democracy.

Later at about 6-30 am, central leaders of Awami League led by its general secretary and Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam left Dhaka for Tungipara to pay their deep homage to Bangabandhu taking part in the party programme there.

The AL delegation reached Tungipara at noon and placed wreaths at the mazar of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex.

Leaders of AL's associate bodies and Gopalganj district unit also paid their tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths and showering petals at his mazar.

Awami League Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed and Yusuf Hossain Humayun, presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury and Advocate Sahara Khatun, joint general secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, organising secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Advocate Misbah Uddin Siraj, law affairs secretary Advocate Abdul Matin Khosru and former state minister AB Tajul Islam, among others, attended the programme at Tungipara.

Acting president of Dhaka City AL MA Aziz, general secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, central relief and rehabilitation affairs secretary Faridunnahar Laily, information and research affairs secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, deputy publicity secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, AL central working committee members Enamul Haque Shamim, SM Kamal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nandi and state minister Junaid Ahmed Palak were also included in the AL delegation.