The ruling Awami League’s general secretary and public administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday said he does not want to see any controversy over the country’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“We want everyone to get the honour and dignity he or she deserves,” he said while addressing a mourning rally at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan. The Dhaka South City Corporation organised the rally ahead of the National Mourning Day on 15 August.
The rally, however, descended into a scrimmage for a while when activists of the ruling AL’s front organisations – Chhatra League, Juba League and Mahila Awami League – threw chairs to each other following a row over sitting arrangement.
Addressing the rally as the chief guest, Syed Ashraf said, “We’ve called for observing 15 August, the National Mourning Day, in a universal manner, because we don’t want to see any controversy over Bangabandhu.”
He further said, “We want everyone to get the position and dignity they deserve. Bangladesh is the achievement of Bangabandhu.”
The AL general secretary called on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson, Khaleda Zia, not to celebrate her birth day on 15 August as it coincides with the National Mourning Day.
He also claimed the 15 August is not the birth day of Khaleda Zia. “Even after that, she celebrates birth day on 15 August and cuts cake on the day.”
“A few days back,” he added, “I said we want to unite the nation. Many years elapsed since we earned liberation. We want everyone to observe the death anniversary of the founding father in a universal manner. We need to steer the country forward. We don’t want division.”
Syed Ashraf went on saying, “I had urged Khaleda Zia to celebrate her birth day either 16 or 17 August or any day other than 15 August. But you [Khaleda] have chosen 15 August intentionally as your birth day. A country cannot be built in this manner.”
Source: Prothom Alo
