PM slams developed states for silence over Gaza

Strongly condemning the killings in Gaza by Israelis, Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina came down Friday heavily again on the developed nations and the human rights organisations at home and abroad for their silence over the offensive, reports UNB.
"I've got stunned seeing the world conscience to remain silent. When one incident of death occurs here (Bangladesh) we receive letters from so many congressmen with protest and criticisms. Today, hundreds of children and women, including expecting mothers, are being killed with bullets…why your conscience  is silent," she questioned.
The PM made the remarks while speaking at a function organised by the women and children affairs ministry at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium marking the 84th birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was killed along with most of her family members, including Bangabandhu, on August 15, 1975.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki presided over the function.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Chairman of Jatiya Mahila Sangstha Prof Momtaj Begum and Bangladesh Shishu Academy Chairperson Selina Hossain also addressed the function.
Deeply condemning the killing of Palestinians in Gaza by Israelis, the PM said, "Why the people who are claiming themselves as civilised ones are silent now."
Pointing finger at the country's human rights organisations, Sheikh Hasina said these organisations often run to the hill tracts, islands and here and there in case of any trivial incident. "Where are they now, why are their voices are missing?" she asked.
She requested the Mahila Awami League and other women organisations of the country to strongly raise their voice against this kind of people, where women and children are being killed.
"When there is any such incident anywhere in the world, I'll request you to raise your voice …though these incidents are not taking here in Bangladesh there shouldn't be any complacence that we are safe," she said.
In this connection, the PM mentioned the killings of 1971, 1975 and after 2001 when BNP-Jamaat was in power.
Sheikh Hasina said when she sees the killings in Palestine her memory of 1975 revisits. "When I see the faces of women and children my memory recalls the pictures of 1971 and 1975."
She mentioned that in 1971 women and children of the country were also killed like this way. She said that the assailants in 1975 killed women, children and other people of Dhanmondi 32, houses of Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni and Serniabat. "The killers mercilessly killed children and women of these houses," she said.
In this connection, Hasina mentioned that the killers did not spare the newly-wed wives of Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal. "We don't want to see such killings in the country again."
Briefly describing the role of Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib behind the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Awami League, the PM said the killers of August 15, 1975 knew her courage and organisational capacity. "That's why they didn't spare my mother," she said.
Earlier, a documentary on Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib was also shown in the programme sketching the life of the wife of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.