Zia family is a family of killers: PM:Daily Sun

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses a programme at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on Thursday, marking the 10th anniversary of August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally. PMO photo Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday termed the ‘Zia family’ a family of killers as she claimed members of this family were involved in Bangabandhu killing and the deadly August 21 grenade attack in 200
4. She said Ziaur Rahman was involved in the killing of Bangabandhu on August 15 in 1975 while Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and some ministers of the then cabinet linked with the August 21 grenade attack in 2004. “This killer family wants to destroy all the achievements of the country earned through supreme sacrifice of 30 lakh people,” Hasina said while addressing a programme on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital. “There is no doubt that Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique and some ministers of her the then cabinet were directly involved in August 21 grenade attack,” she said. Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, alleged that this family wants to halt the country’s development by killing people and tarnishing its image through corruption. “They committed crimes against humanity by killing people through arson attacks in the name of movement to foil the January 5 national election,” she said. The Awami League organised the programme to mark the 10th anniversary of the brutal attack on an Awami League rally in 2004 that left 24 people killed and scores of others injured. Hasina narrowly escaped the attack but suffered damage in her right ear. Many others are still haunted after 10 years of the heartrending and horrific incident. Recalling the heinous attack on the AL rally, Hasina said Tarique used to live in the house of his father-in-law at Dhanmondi and shifted to the cantonment residence on August 1. The premier called on the countrymen to remain alert against ‘this family of killers’. She, however, said the killers will have no place on the soil of the country. “People should remain alert against those who are out to destroy the country’s image to fulfil their evil interests,” she said. The premier said that Bangladesh has bright prospects but a vested quarter has been hatching conspiracies to hinder its progress and advancement. “People who cannot accept the country’s independence are still hatching conspiracies,” she pointed out. “The country has been attacked several times but it turns around every time. Bangladesh is now known as a role model of development,” Hasina said, adding that none will be able to hinder the country’s progress. Reminiscing about the horrific August 21 incident, the premier, who was the opposition leader then, said they were not allowed to raise the issue in parliament. “Rather the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said that I carried the grenades through my vanity bag and hurled those at the rally,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said that the country experienced serial bomb blasts at 500 places across the country on August 17 in 2004 during the past BNP-led government. “It is quite impossible for a lone organisation to carry out such attack. The BNP-led government was linked with the terrible incident,” the premier added. Referring to the rise of militancy during the BNP tenure, Hasina alleged that they had created opportunity for the militants to freely roam around the country. “Reign of Bangla Bhai was established during BNP tenure. They used to keep people hanging in trees after killing,” she said, adding that AL leader Ahsan Ullah Master was killed by them. “Even bombs were hurled at the Awami League offices in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Bagerhat and Naraynaganj,” the premier mentioned. Recalling the violence after 2001 polls, she said BNP-Jamaat men killed people after the 2001 elections in the way Pakistanis perpetrated killings during the country’s war of independence. She claimed that incidents of killing, rape and forced disappearances mark a sharp rise while they (BNP) are in power. “We were in office for five years but did not patronise militancy and violence. It is because our main target is to achieve economic emancipation and establish rule of the law,” she said alleging that they (BNP-Jamaat) carried out mayhem this time too centring January 5 elections. About the trial of war criminals, the premier said that her party is determined to try those who committed crimes against humanity during the liberation war in 1971. “A verdict against a war criminal has already been executed while trial against some other war criminals is underway. But the BNP chief is trying to save them,” she said. Sheikh Hasina also said, “Attacks on my life had been made several times.” “I have survived attacks several times. It is Almighty Allah, who has protected me. I have been working so that the people can have their meal. I believe, that’s why, Allah keeps me alive,” she said. Earlier, Hasina along with her party leaders and activists placed wreaths at the makeshift altar on Bangabandhu Avenue. She also met the families of the victims.