Zia rehabilitated war criminals: PM

FE Team | Published: March 28, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Sunday questioned if Ziaur Rahman 'really' declared the independence, how could he release thousands of war criminals and rehabilitated them after the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman? "If you (BNP) want to say Zia declared the independence, reply to one question. Being a declarer of independence, how could Zia stop the trial of war criminals and release 11,000 war criminals?" she questioned. Hasina, also the president of Awami League, was addressing a discussion on the Independence and National Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city Sunday. The PM asserted that Zia only read out the proclamation of independence. Hasina said the Proclamation of Independence could be made only by the person who has got public mandate. Recalling the moments when Bangladesh's independence was proclaimed at the zero hour of March 26, the Prime Minister said the proclamation of independence by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was sent to different parts of the country through EPR wireless, telegram and telegraphs. Hasina said after the proclamation was read out by Awami League leaders MA Hannan and Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury, the leaders present at the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra thought it would be better if an army officer could be managed to read out the proclamation and let the people feel confident that the army was also with the liberation war. Hasina alleged that Zia at that time was engaged in breaking the barricades put up by the people in Chittagong following the non-cooperation movement called by the Father of the Nation. "Zia also had killed many workers of Sangram Parishad while breaking the barricades. However, army also needed to guard the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra," she said. The Prime Minister said the anti-liberation forces could not believe that the Bangali nation would get an independent and sovereign state and that's why they killed Bangabandhu, his family members and the four national leaders. "After the tragedy of August 15, 1975, the anti-liberation forces killed army officers and distorted the national history. It was Zia who started these heinous acts," she said. "Zia also gave back citizenship to many war criminals including Golam Azam. He had also rehabilitated killers of the Father of the Nation," she added. After Zia's death, his wife (Khaleda) has also been doing the same thing, Hasina said. The PM was also highly critical of Islami Oikya Jote leader Mufti Fazlul Haque Amini for his remarks that she is an atheist. "If he (Amini) is a Muslim, and being a Muslim how can he call another Muslim an atheist?" she questioned.