Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam has said, “The 3 November killing had been pre-planned. The 1975 killing and the 3 November killing are connected. Zia and Mushtaque were involved in both these killings.”
Syed Ashraf was speaking at the public rally organised by Awami League at Suhrawardy Uddyan on the occasion of Jail Killing Day.
Ashraful Islam said that Zia rehabilitated the killers of 15 August and 3 November. This proves that he was involved in the incidents. He said, “Until Awami League came to power, no government began the trial for the jail killing. When Awami League came to power in 1996, the trial began. I am confident that this will be completed during the term of Sheikh Hasina’s government.”
Concerning the verdicts against those accused of crimes against humanity, the Awami League general secretary said that the sentences will be speedily implemented. Awami League must be strengthened. Sheikh Hasina’s power must be consolidated.”
The rally began at three in the afternoon, presided over by Awami League’s deputy leader of parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been addressing the rally as chief guest.
Earlier, the local government minister and Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, speaking to reporters at the Banani graveyard in the morning, claimed that the four national leaders had been killed at the orders of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Three of the four national leaders are buried at the Banani graveyard in the capital city and one laid to rest in Rajshahi.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed along with his family on 15 August 1975. Then on 3 November that year, four national leaders and close political associates of Bangabandhu were killed inside the jail. They were the Mujibnagar government’s acting president Syed Nazrul Islam; prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed; finance, industries and commerce minister Captain M Mansur Ali; and minister for home, civil supply, relief, rehabilitation and agriculture AHM Kamruzzaman.
source: Prothom Alo
