In a scathing attack on Khaleda Zia, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday said the BNP chief has vowed afresh to build new Pakistan on the National Mourning Day.
“Khaleda Zia doesn’t celebrate birthday on National Mourning Day, she rather takes a fresh vow to build new Pakistan,” he said.
Ashraf, also the general secretary of Awami League, said this while addressing a pre-mourning rally discussion marking the National Mourning Day organised by Awami Juba League held in front of Engineers Institution in the city.
“We repeatedly requested Khaleda Zia not to celebrate birthday on National Mourning Day even if it’s real to show respect for Bangabandhu. She can celebrate it on August 16. We don’t have any objection to celebrating her birthday,” Ashraf added.
Mentioning that the celebration of birthday is not part of the country’s culture, the Awami League leader said, “I never celebrated my birthday in my life. Crores of people in the country don’t celebrate their birthdays by cutting cakes as it’s not our culture. It’s a western culture. But Khaleda Zia is not ready to accept that.”
The nation was divided through Bangabandhu’s assassination, said the minister adding, “We want to see the nation get united. Don’t divide the nation by celebrating a fake birthday.”
He went on saying, “Those celebrate fake birthdays on the National Mourning Day there could be no consensus with them. On various occasions in the past, we had extended our hands, but Khaleda Zia didn’t accept that.”
Observing that the BNP chief waged a war against the creation of Bangladesh, Syed Ashraf said, “We have to resist the evil force with an iron hand.”
Juba League general secretary Harun-Or-Rashid, among others, spoke at the programme held with its chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury in the chair.
Source: UNB
