PM slams countries for giving refuge to Bangabandhu killers

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday slammed USA, Canada and Pakistan for giving shelters to the self-confessed killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

PM said, the government is making all-out efforts for full execution of the verdict of Bangabandhu Murder Case by bringing back home six remaining convicted fugitives from abroad, in the Jatiya Sangsad during the Prime Minister`s question-answer session on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister said as per the available reports, two of the fugitives are now living in the USA and Canada; two in Pakistan and the whereabouts of two killers are still unclear. The government has appointed lawyers to deal with the matter with those countries and making continued efforts to bring back those killers, she said.

"However, Pakistan is not cooperating with us and it`s not clear why the civilized countries like USA and Canada are giving shelters to the self confessed killers," she said in reply to questions from the lawmakers in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in the chair.

Sheikh Hasina said the trial of the killers of Bangabandhu was held in the normal court amidst many obstacles despite giving them indemnity. One day, the verdict would certainly be executed fully, she said.

Begum Fazilatun Nesa Bappi, a parliament member in the reserved seats for women, raised the question, which was later supplemented by Abdus Shahid (Moulavi Bazar 4).

The prime minister said the horrific episode of August 15, 1975 plunged Bangladesh into the politics of killing, coup and conspiracy. Violation of constitution and illegal usurp of power had also began after that brutal incident, she told the House. She said, "Ziuar Rahman declared himself as the president of Bangladesh, prevented me and my sister Sheikh Rehana from coming back to the country. The passport of Sheikh Rehana was sent to Bangladesh High Commission in London for renewal as its tenure expired. But at the directive of Ziaur Rahman, the high commission neither renewed the passport nor issued a new one."

The prime minister said after her return home in 1981, Ziaur Rahman also barred her from entering the Bangabandhu`s house at Dhanmondi Road no 32 and offer prayer for her parents and brothers, keeping the house under lock and key.

Sheikh Hasina said Ziaur Rahman with an ulterior motive also changed the number of the road no 32 of Dhanmondi and allowed not a single Awami Leaguer to enter the house till June 12, 1981.

All on a sudden, she said, the house was handed over to me on June 12, 1981 in an hour`s notice after the killing of Ziaur Rahman. "They put pressure on me to sign various documents to receive the house," she said adding, "I`m still unclear about what actually was their hurry to return my paternal home to me after a long time".