Punishment must

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia must face punishment on charges of corruption as well as killing people.

"Khaleda Zia and her forces are killing people through arson attacks… We can't accept it," she said addressing an Awami League rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, marking the anniversary of historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Condemning petrol and crude bomb attacks on people and public transports, the PM alleged that all of the attackers were members of the Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, Jamaat-e-Islami or Chhatra Shibir.

Terming those attacks acts of terror, Hasina said cases have been filed against Khaleda as the mastermind.

Branding her archrival as the leader of militants, the PM alleged Khaleda has let loose terrorists on the common people.

Also the ruling AL president, Hasina said patrons of terrorism have to get punishment just like the attackers and "in line with international standards."

A section of the crowd that gathered at Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday to listen to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's speech on the Historic March 7. On this day in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared the struggle for independence on this very ground. Photo: PMO

She urged people from all sections of the society to unite against terrorist activities.

Turning to Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the prime minister said, "If she [Khaleda] thinks she is honest, why doesn't she face the court? Khaleda Zia knows that she has siphoned off money and that's why she is afraid of facing court."

Blasting the BNP chief for calling blockade and hartal, the PM said Khaleda is dreaming of assuming power by killing people. But her dream would never come true, she added.

Hasina presided over the rally, also addressed by party leaders Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammad Nasim, Mahabub-ul-Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, MA Aziz and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, among others.

A large contingent of law enforcers cordoned off the venue, and frisked everyone at the entrance.

Ruling party leaders, activists and supporters started flocking to the ground around 12:30pm. Noticeably, most of the banners read names of ward-level leaders and their posts.

Earlier in the morning, the PM, her colleagues in the AL and leaders of like-minded parties and organisations paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.

On this day in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his fiery speech called upon the Bangalee nation to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistan junta.