Don’t let Razakars-killers return to power

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged all to remain alert so that Razakars, Al Badrs, war criminals, killers and manipulators of history can never return to power.

“…Razakars, Al Badrs, war criminals, killers and history manipulators should never come to power again. The country is moving ahead, it’ll move forward and we’ll build it with the Liberation War spirit,” she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a grand rally organised to celebrate the recognition of the historic 7th March speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a world documentary heritage by Unesco.

Sheikh Hasina said it is matter of great regret for all that the anti-liberation forces not only killed the Father of the Nation, but also demolished the ideal for which the Liberation War was waged and tens of thousands of martyrs laid down their lives.

“They had put Razakars, Al Badrs and killers in state power…they had distorted the country’s history coming to power,” she said.

After the assassination of the Father of the Nation, the Prime Minister said, the historical 7th March speech was banned in the country. “This speech never had gone on air through radio and television. Our leaders and activists had to face inhumane torture for playing this speech, many leaders and workers laid down their lives.

Hasina said no one can erase history. “The real history is always remains on top. This has been proved today.”

She wanted to know the present condition of those who had banned this historic 7th March speech. “Where will they hide their faces. They had tried to peter out this speech.”

Hasina regretted generations one after another could not know the real history of the county after 1975. “With this recognition, this speech has attained its place in the international arena.”

Briefly describing the various achievements of the government, the PM said the present government put Bangladesh in a respectable position in the world arena. “The Father of the Nation wanted to see a developed and prosperous nation… we’re moving towards that end, this is our prime work,” she said.

The programme started with the play of the national anthem. Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech was also screened on the occasion.

Eminent reciter Bhaswar Bandapadhay recited poet Nirmelandu Goon’s famous poem ‘Jevabe Swadhinata Shobdo Ti Amader’.

The PM’s address was followed by a cultural function and a laser show.

On October 30, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) recognised the Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech as part of world’s documentary heritage. Unesco Director General Irina Bokova announced the decision at its Paris headquarters.

In the capital, the celebration began at noon through placing wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi Road-32.

Later, a procession from there moved towards Suhrawardy Udyan where Bangabandhu had delivered the landmark speech in a mammoth gathering on March 7, 1971.

As part of the celebrationa, jubilant processions, essay and quiz competitions and screening of films on the Liberation War were arranged in 64 districts.

Bangladesh missions abroad also hold the similar programmes.

Educational institutions across the country also organised essay, quiz and general knowledge competitions.