JS describes martyred army officers as national heroes
Monday, 2 March 2009
The Jatiya Sangsad Sunday described the martyred army officers as national heroes and condemned the barbaric killings and called for forging greater national unity and strengthening of the armed forces including the BDR to protect independence and sovereignty of the country, reports BSS from Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Suspending the day's activities, Speaker Advocate Abdul Hamid moved the obituary reference on the tragic killings at BDR headquarters and proposed for keeping the discussion limited only between the leader of the house and leader of the opposition on the obituary reference on the slain members of Bangladesh Army and their family members.
Taking floor, leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia suggested wider participation of the lawmakers on this matter of great national concern to inform the countrymen about the whole incident that took place in the BDR headquarters on February 25 and 26.
The Speaker invited first the Chief Whip of the opposition Zainul Abdin Farroque to take part in the discussion.
Taking floor Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan urged all not to do politics with the heartbreaking incident that happened in Pilkhana. Dispelling the opposition remark that the government did not swing to action he said it was not easy to go for any action in a 'built up' area. He urged the opposition members to make comments with responsibility.
Hasanul Haque Inu said the bloodshed took place at a time when the new government was up with various plans and programmes to build the nation anew after the December 29 general election overwhelmingly participated by the people.
Praising the Prime Minister's swift and timely move in tackling the BDR carnage, treasury bench member Subed Ali Bhuiyan said, 'the Prime Minister has showed her wisdom by pursuing the way of negotiation instead of military action'. He demanded immediate trial of the killers of BDR officials by forming a special tribunal and restoring the chain of command in the BDR.
Barrister Mabub Uddin Khokan of BNP demanded an all-party committee to probe this inhuman incident.
Taking part in the discussion, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Golam M Qader said the killing of army officers in the BDR headquarters is one of the most heinous carnages in the human history. "The anguish of BDR jawans has been used to drag them (BDR jawans) into the killers' group," he said.
Rashed Khan Menon criticised the opposition for, what he said, their silence during the initial days of BDR carnage in Pilkhana and for not putting forward any motion in the House to discuss this highly important issue in parliament.
Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Mirza Azam, one of the negotiators with the BDR rebels at the very beginning, said he entered the BDR headquarters at the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina braving indiscriminate firing inside Pilkhana.
Terming the killers of the army officers as enemies of the nation, he demanded exemplary punishment for the persons involved in such a massacre of the worst nature.
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak, also another negotiator with the BDR rebels, said the brutal killing of army officers in Pilkhana was a well-planned design to bereave the nation of the brilliant sons of the soil.
Taking part in the discussion, treasury bench lawmaker and Awami League presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said, none could tolerate the incident of February 25 and 26 in Pilkhana, the BDR headquarters.
He said, a deep-rooted conspiracy is on as many have been trying to catch fish in troubled waters. These sections, he said, have been banking on rumours to achieve their targets.
Sheikh Selim refuted allegations against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and said, the highest level of her political wisdom have saved 33 military officers who are still alive and thousands other civilians in and adjoining areas of BDR headquarters.
He criticized BNP 'for doing politics on national crisis' and said, if Sheikh Hasina could apply force as the first choice on that day, BNP would now definitely criticize the government for its steps, saying 'negotiations' must have been the first choice instead of applying 'military force' to avoid massive casualties.
"Please don't do politics for the sake of politics. Try to be practical and honest about your comments and speak with responsibility," he said, pointing to the opposition lawmakers of BNP and its allies.
Sheikh Selim asked the leader of the opposition why she did not participate in the parliament on those two turbulent days and said, she played a dubious role during the crisis. He also asked opposition lawmakers about what role they have played during the mutiny. "Had anyone of you gone there? Had anyone of you risked your life for the greater interest of the nation?" he questioned.
He said, when the entire world and international media have been appreciating Sheikh Hasina for her leadership in overcoming the ordeal, BNP has been trying to cash on it. He said, no conspiracies would be successful in Bangladesh, where the trial of the killers would be held under any circumstances.
Awami League leader and treasury bench lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta said, the obituary reference could have been adopted unanimously without any debate. He said, the discussions on the issue might have taken place on a separate day.
Sengupta urged the opposition not to speak freely, which might affect the investigation process. He also urged them not to do politics on 'bodies' and shun the path of bad politics of cashing on 'murders of bright boys' of the armed forces.
Suspending the day's activities, Speaker Advocate Abdul Hamid moved the obituary reference on the tragic killings at BDR headquarters and proposed for keeping the discussion limited only between the leader of the house and leader of the opposition on the obituary reference on the slain members of Bangladesh Army and their family members.
Taking floor, leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia suggested wider participation of the lawmakers on this matter of great national concern to inform the countrymen about the whole incident that took place in the BDR headquarters on February 25 and 26.
The Speaker invited first the Chief Whip of the opposition Zainul Abdin Farroque to take part in the discussion.
Taking floor Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan urged all not to do politics with the heartbreaking incident that happened in Pilkhana. Dispelling the opposition remark that the government did not swing to action he said it was not easy to go for any action in a 'built up' area. He urged the opposition members to make comments with responsibility.
Hasanul Haque Inu said the bloodshed took place at a time when the new government was up with various plans and programmes to build the nation anew after the December 29 general election overwhelmingly participated by the people.
Praising the Prime Minister's swift and timely move in tackling the BDR carnage, treasury bench member Subed Ali Bhuiyan said, 'the Prime Minister has showed her wisdom by pursuing the way of negotiation instead of military action'. He demanded immediate trial of the killers of BDR officials by forming a special tribunal and restoring the chain of command in the BDR.
Barrister Mabub Uddin Khokan of BNP demanded an all-party committee to probe this inhuman incident.
Taking part in the discussion, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Golam M Qader said the killing of army officers in the BDR headquarters is one of the most heinous carnages in the human history. "The anguish of BDR jawans has been used to drag them (BDR jawans) into the killers' group," he said.
Rashed Khan Menon criticised the opposition for, what he said, their silence during the initial days of BDR carnage in Pilkhana and for not putting forward any motion in the House to discuss this highly important issue in parliament.
Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Mirza Azam, one of the negotiators with the BDR rebels at the very beginning, said he entered the BDR headquarters at the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina braving indiscriminate firing inside Pilkhana.
Terming the killers of the army officers as enemies of the nation, he demanded exemplary punishment for the persons involved in such a massacre of the worst nature.
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak, also another negotiator with the BDR rebels, said the brutal killing of army officers in Pilkhana was a well-planned design to bereave the nation of the brilliant sons of the soil.
Taking part in the discussion, treasury bench lawmaker and Awami League presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said, none could tolerate the incident of February 25 and 26 in Pilkhana, the BDR headquarters.
He said, a deep-rooted conspiracy is on as many have been trying to catch fish in troubled waters. These sections, he said, have been banking on rumours to achieve their targets.
Sheikh Selim refuted allegations against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and said, the highest level of her political wisdom have saved 33 military officers who are still alive and thousands other civilians in and adjoining areas of BDR headquarters.
He criticized BNP 'for doing politics on national crisis' and said, if Sheikh Hasina could apply force as the first choice on that day, BNP would now definitely criticize the government for its steps, saying 'negotiations' must have been the first choice instead of applying 'military force' to avoid massive casualties.
"Please don't do politics for the sake of politics. Try to be practical and honest about your comments and speak with responsibility," he said, pointing to the opposition lawmakers of BNP and its allies.
Sheikh Selim asked the leader of the opposition why she did not participate in the parliament on those two turbulent days and said, she played a dubious role during the crisis. He also asked opposition lawmakers about what role they have played during the mutiny. "Had anyone of you gone there? Had anyone of you risked your life for the greater interest of the nation?" he questioned.
He said, when the entire world and international media have been appreciating Sheikh Hasina for her leadership in overcoming the ordeal, BNP has been trying to cash on it. He said, no conspiracies would be successful in Bangladesh, where the trial of the killers would be held under any circumstances.
Awami League leader and treasury bench lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta said, the obituary reference could have been adopted unanimously without any debate. He said, the discussions on the issue might have taken place on a separate day.
Sengupta urged the opposition not to speak freely, which might affect the investigation process. He also urged them not to do politics on 'bodies' and shun the path of bad politics of cashing on 'murders of bright boys' of the armed forces.