Local Government Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is attempting to create instability in Bangladesh while staying in India.
“Fascist Hasina has fled to India, but from there she is trying to destabilise the country. This is clearly a criminal offence,” he said.
He made the remarks while speaking at the inauguration of the documentary “Mayer Daak” at the Bangladesh Film Archive in Agargaon, marking International Women’s Day.
Mirza Fakhrul alleged that over the past one and a half decades many families were destroyed and hundreds of people were subjected to enforced disappearance and killings.
“But the most frightening reality is that Sheikh Hasina has shown no sign of remorse over these incidents,” he said.
The minister said the government is sincere about providing support to families who lost their relatives to enforced disappearance and killings.
He said many children of such families are living in deep hardship and the state must take effective measures to support them.
“The families of the disappeared are going through immense suffering. There has been no effective state initiative to ensure that their children can grow up, survive and live with dignity,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul said he will inform Prime Minister Tarique Rahman about the issue and write to him seeking government allowances for the affected families.
“I will write to the prime minister that providing allowances for these families is very important and it should be ensured as their rightful support,” he added.
He said many political changes have taken place in the country, with some becoming ministers, members of parliament and others holding important positions.
“But the children of those whose sacrifices made this change possible are still facing an uncertain future. Ensuring a better future for them is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
The minister said the government should support the affected families, ensure the education of their children and help them move forward in life.
Speaking emotionally, he said many children of those who were killed or disappeared during the movement grew up without their fathers.
“Society and the state must ensure that no child has to face such a situation in the future,” he said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon and State Minister Yasser Khan Chowdhury also spoke at the programme chaired by Mayer Daak Convenor Sanjida Islam Tulee.
Family members of victims of enforced disappearance also attended the event.
