'The Nation Knows Who Colluded With Whom': Minister Annie Speaks at Sewing Machine Distribution in Lakshmipur

Water Resources Minister and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie has raised questions about the role of opposition parties at various points of the anti-autocracy movement, including on 28 October. 'The nation knows who colluded with whom,' he said. He made the remarks as chief guest at a programme distributing sewing machines among marginalised women in Lakshmipur.

The programme was held on Friday (23 October) morning at the Totarkhil Ayesha High School field in Dattapara Union of Chandraganj upazila, Lakshmipur. It was organised by Lifeline Welfare Organization.

In his speech, Annie Chowdhury said: 'The student wing of the opposition party was in hiding at some universities; they were doing Chhatra League politics. The nation knows who colluded with whom. Everyone knows who colluded with whom in 1986 and 1996. They did not observe 173 days of hartal and blockade together with the fascists.'

With these remarks, the minister brought the old debate over the history of the movement back into the open. In his public speech he raised the questions of which party reached understandings with whom and when, and who was where during the movement.

In the main part of the programme, sewing machines were distributed to make marginalised, helpless and destitute women of Dattapara Union self-reliant. A total of 150 sewing machines were distributed at a cost of about Tk 15 lakh.

According to the organisers, the initiative was taken to increase women's work skills, create income opportunities and make them self-dependent. The women who received sewing machines are expected to be able to work from home and contribute to their families' income.

Bangladesh National Social Welfare Council Executive Secretary Kamruzzaman attended as special guest. Also present were Chandraganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nilufa Yasmin Nipa and Chandraganj Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Abdur Rob.

Others present included Jatiya Mahila Sangstha Lakshmipur district officer Anwar Pasha, physician Dr B K Das Bijoy, Chandraganj upazila BNP president M Bellal Hossain and organising secretary Abdul Mannan Lithon, along with local figures from various levels.

The programme was held under the overall supervision of Lifeline Welfare Organization founder Ahsan Habib. The organisation runs various voluntary activities in education, environment, child development, social development and empowerment of marginalised communities.

Political speech and social initiative came together at this event. On the one hand, this senior BNP leader threw questions at his opponents over the history of the movement; on the other, the organising body took an initiative to create income paths for marginalised women.