Sheikh Hasina must be brought back to face trial: Shamim

Mahbubur Rahman Shamim, administrator of Chattogram District Council and central organising secretary of the BNP, has said Sheikh Hasina must be brought back to the country and put on trial. There is a prisoner exchange agreement between Bangladesh and India, he said, demanding that Sheikh Hasina be sent back under that agreement.

He made the remarks as chief guest at a workers' rally organised by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Railway Sramik O Karmachari Dal at the CRB in the city on Tuesday (November 10) afternoon, marking the historic November 7 National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Shamim said November 7 is a highly significant and glorious day for patriotic, freedom-loving and democracy-loving people. The main pledge of November 7 should be that no one in the future can strip the people of their rights or turn Bangladesh into a client state by taking away the country's independence and sovereignty.

He said that given Bangladesh's socioeconomic, geographical and political realities, the spirit of the Sepoy-People's Revolution must be embraced wholeheartedly to strengthen national unity.

The Liberation War of 1971, the Sepoy-People's Revolution of November 7, 1975, the anti-autocracy movement of 1990 and the anti-fascist mass uprising of 2024 have proved that the people of Bangladesh have never compromised on questions of national interest and independence and sovereignty. Above everything else, Bangladesh comes first for them.

Calling on railway workers and employees to stay alert against attempts to create sabotage and disorder in the railway sector, Mahbubur Rahman Shamim said genuine workers do not want harm to their own institution. A vested quarter is trying to create disorder, set vehicles on fire and block roads under the guise of workers' movements. Even amid many obstacles and adversities under the Awami League government, railway workers were on the streets in movements and struggles.

Shamim said a conspiracy against Tarique Rahman means a conspiracy against Bangladesh. Those who killed and tortured BNP leaders and workers over the past 17 years, snatched people's voting rights and destroyed democracy are now trying to destabilise the country. Everyone must stay alert against these conspiracies.

He said martyred President Ziaur Rahman founded the BNP with the aim of multi-party democracy and political change. Later, Begum Khaleda Zia led the movement to restore democracy. Bangladesh is now moving forward under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, and under his leadership the country will become a prosperous state, Shamim said.

In his speech as special guest, Abul Hashem Bakkar, former general secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan BNP, said the war of 1971 was a war to achieve independence, while 2024 was a struggle to protect the freedom of the country and its people. Just as people from all walks of life took to the streets on August 5, 2024, on November 7, 1975, soldiers and people united in the same way to thwart a conspiracy against the country's independence and sovereignty.

He further said that in the history of Bangladesh, November 7, 1975, was the day that set the country's future course. Every time Bangladesh has strayed from the spirit of November 7, the country's independence and the sovereignty of its people have come under threat. Irrespective of party, religion and caste, all citizens of this country have one proud identity — we are Bangladeshis. This identity has made us a united nation. The historic November 7 further strengthened the foundation of Bangladeshi nationalism.

In his speech as main speaker, Nazimur Rahman, member secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan BNP, said that through the united revolution of soldiers and people on November 7, 1975, martyred President Ziaur Rahman was freed from captivity and took charge of the state. At that time, his leadership was needed to protect the country's independence and sovereignty.

Nazimur Rahman further said that after August 15, 1975, many Awami League leaders were in Khandaker Moshtaque's cabinet. Moshtaque himself was a member of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's cabinet. Yet at that time there was no political party called BNP. So there is no scope to blame the BNP for the political events of that period.

He further said that after taking charge of running the state, Ziaur Rahman took initiatives to build Bangladesh into a modern and prosperous state. He worked to establish the basic rights of the people and for economic development. Martyred President Ziaur Rahman played an important role in manpower exports and the development of the ready-made garment industry.

The rally was presided over by Advocate M R Manjur, general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Railway Sramik Dal, and conducted by organising secretary Abu Bakkar Siddique. Railway Sramik Dal leaders Md Kamal Uddin, Shamsul Alam, Monowara Begum, Maruf Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Mafizur Rahman, M K Mujib, Ikhtekhar Mehdi, Yusuf, Amir Hossain, Masudur Rahman Babu, Mansur Alam, Shariful Islam Swapan, Enamul Haque, Ehsan Ali and Abdul Majed also spoke at the rally.