Awami League Presidium member and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Saturday said the previous BNP-Jamaat alliance government decorated Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with Ziaur Rahman with the Independence Award posthumously to belittle Bangabandhu.
“How Bangabandhu and Zia were placed on the same row? Bangabandhu was compared with a sector commander by awarding him with the Independence Award.
The then 4-party alliance government awarded Bangabandhu along with Zia with the award with a motive to belittle the creator of the country’s independence,” he said.
Nasim said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion and self-composed poetry recitation session organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Goshthy at the Conference Lounge of the National Press Club marking the National Mourning Day commemorating the 41st anniversary of martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In 2003, Begum Khaleda Zia-led previous four-party alliance government awarded the architect of independence Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with late president Ziaur Rahman with the Independence Award. The awards and citations were preserved at the National Museum.
Nasim said, “During the tenure of his post-liberation government after the independence of the country, Bangabandhu himself decorated Ziaur Rahman with ‘Bir Uttam’ gallantry title for his contributions in the war of liberation.
Then you just say as to how Bangabandhu denied his (Zia) contributions. But what you (BNP) have done? You have placed Bangabandhu and Zia on the same row.”
“Later on, Zia betrayed with Bangabandhu, who earlier rewarded him. Zia patronised and sheltered the killers of Bangabandhu during his rule giving them an employment scope in Bangladesh missions abroad,” he added.
The senior Awami League leader said, “Pakistani authorities did not even
dare to kill Bangabandhu though he was nearer to their grip. On the contrary,
a few traitors of the country assassinated him. And killer Mostaque
promulgated the infamous Indemnity Ordinance so that trial in the murder case
could not be held. And for long, Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia
retained the black law (during their rule).”
President of Bangabandhu Sangskritik Goshthy film hero Masum Parvez Rubel
presided over the function, also addressed, among others, by Awami League
(AL) international affairs secretary Lt Col (Retd) Faruque Khan, Poet and
playwright Kazi Rosy, MP, assistant secretary to AL sub-committee Advocate
Balaram Poddar, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote general secretary Arun Sarker
Rana and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Goshthy general secretary Parimal Ghosh
Ranjit.
