UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the people not to forget the terrible days of the arson violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat in the name of movement.
“I would like to ask the people of the country to be alert so that none can resort to such incidents anymore in future,” she said.
The premier was addressing an event titled ‘Cries of Arson Violence: A partial scenario of BNP-Jamaat Fire Terrorism, Anarchy and Violation of Human Rights’ organised by Bangladesh Awami League at National Museum Auditorium here in the city.
She said some 500 people were burnt to death and more than 3500 people were injured during the arson violence of BNP-Jamaat in 2013-15. “We tried our best to stand beside the victims and took steps for their treatments. But it is not possible to wipe out the pains and sufferings of the people who lost their dear ones,” she added.
Hasina said those who were burned had many dreams with their lives, but the aspirations were burned to ashes. “I just would like to tell the people of the country that none should forget that awful time,” she said.
There is no objection to healthy politics, but such violence won’t be tolerated, she said.
The PM said if anyone wants to do politics, they can do healthy politics. “We don’t have any objection (with healthy politics). But if anyone attacks my general people, they (attackers) will not be spared. It (violence) can’t be tolerated. No man can endure it,” she said.
She said every citizen irrespective of political parties and creeds has rights to lead life and conduct livelihood freely. “We have the responsibility to protect the rights,” she added.
PM Hasina said she lost her father, mother and brothers just in a single day. “So, we “I can feel their pain, (who lost dear ones in the arson violence),” she said in an emotion-choked voice.
She said the people were killed alive setting fire to buses again and again in 2013, 2014 and 2015. “Why did they destroy the lives of the people this way? How could it be called a movement? We never saw such movements before,”
She said they (AL) waged movements on many occasions since her school life and joined the movements against every military dictator. “We also waged movements against Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and Zia. But we, even in our dreams, never thought killing the common people through petrol bombs and arson attacks,” she said.
Hasina said the BNP had announced a blockade and strike, but their aim was to kill people. “Such attacks are gross human rights violations,” she said.
She said there are cases against those who are involved in this kind of arson violence, many are being punished and more will get punishment in the future.
Talking about the masterminds of the violence, the PM criticised those who support the order givers despite resorting to such destructive activities.
“I don’t know how anyone can support those who could unleash such destructive attacks and cause sufferings for the people,” she said.
Mafruha Begum, who survived but lost her husband Nuruzzaman Bablu and her 10th-grader daughter Maisha in a petrol bomb attack on their bus in Chauddagram of Cumilla in 2015, questioned why she had to lose her loved ones without any offense.
“We neither do politics nor understand it. Why are we leading a hapless life losing family members in arson violence? What was the crime of my daughter Maisha? I can’t see and hear voices of my daughter and my husband for eight years. I can’t hear Maisha calling me mother,” she said.
Mafruha said she could survive the fire as the husband threw her out through the window, but she could not save him and her daughter.
“My daughter and husband died from burns in front of my eyes. I still hear the scream and the call of ‘mother,’ the last word of my Maisha. I still can’t sleep throughout the night,” she said in a traumatized voice.
Salauddin Bhuiyan, who got huge scars on face due to burn injuries sustained in the arson violence in Jatrabari while going to Narsingdi from Dhaka by a bus in 2013, said he is often suffers neglect.
“I used to lead a happy life with a nice face. Now I live with deep mental agony. But I don’t get any job now. I still have the ability to work but none employs me,” he said, showing his two hands.
“When I get on a bus now, no passenger can sit beside me due to my disfigured face,” he added.
Like them, covered van driver Ramzan Ali who lost his 14-year son Munir Hossain in the parked covered van in Gazipur when it came under the petrol bomb attack in Gazipur; Runi Begum, who lost her son Nahid in arson attack in Shahbagh, Nasrin Akter, wife of BGB member Shah Alam who was beaten to death while on duty in Kanchpur; and Maya Begum, wife of Police constable Zakaria who was killed in the 2013 violence, Khodeza Nasreen Akhter Hossain MP who sustained burn injuries in the capital; and Laila Begum, wife of Police member Hazrat Ali who was killed in 2013, among others, shared their miseries and agony.
The prime minister talked to the victims and families of the arson violence unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat alliance in the period of 2013-2015.
In the event, some victims, who are still suffering from the injuries or bear gruesome fire scars, and the victim family members shared their sufferings and demanded punishment of the perpetrators.
The family members said they are now passing through serious financial hardship and mental agony after losing their dear and beloved ones. They wanted no innocent one like their dear ones to lose life in such violence.
Noted cultural personality Asaduzzaman Noor, also an Awami League MP, conducted the event.
