“Democracy has been restored in the country due to Zillur Rahman’s strong leadership,” Hasina told reporters at Bangabhaban on Thursday afternoon highlighting the courageous role of Zillur Rahman after the political changeover through 1/11.
She also expressed her firm resolve that the democratic system would continue in the country.
The Prime Minister said Zillur Rahman, with a heavy heart after losing his beloved wife Ivy Rahman in a grenade attack on August 21, 2004, took over charge of Awami League as its acting president in 2007 when she was sent to jail by the caretaker government in false cases.
Lauding some salient characteristics of the late President, Hasina said Zillur Rahman could perform all the responsibilities efficiently with his decent and calm nature.
“Man is mortal, all has to accept death, but the country’s people would remember forever whatever he has done throughout his life,” she observed.
Noting that it would be very hard to find out such gentleman like Zillur Rahman at present, the Prime Minister said she could have taken all the right steps taking suggestions from him.
Mentioning that Zillur Rahman had constituted an Election Commission for the first time taking opinion from all the political parties, Hasina said, “He (Zillur) has departed at a time when the entire nation needed him the most.”
She said Zillur Rahman was such a politician who was very respectable and acceptable to all as well as acted as the role of a guardian.
Highlighting his glorious political career, the Prime Minister said the late president from his student life had been engaged in politics with Bangabandhu and thereafter he was associated with Awami League throughout his whole life, acted as minister, presidium member of the party and general secretary in four terms.
Hasina also urged the countrymen to pray for eternal peace of the departed soul of the late president at the all the mosques, temples, pagodas and other religious temples
