Defeated powers will not rise again: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has criticised BNP for backing the defeated powers of the Liberation War and said that those forces will never rise to prominence again in Bangladesh.

She was speaking at an Awami League rally to commemorate the National Mourning Day on Saturday.

Sheikh Hasina said the trial of war criminals began after independence but Ziaur Rahman stopped it after coming to power.

She pointed out that the interviews of killers of Bangabandhu to BBC were evidences that Ziaur Rahman was involved in the Aug 15 killings.

The Awami League president alleged that Zia was close to Khandakar Mushtaque. "Why would Mushtaque make Zia the army chief if they were not friends?"

"Zia was communicating with the Pakistani forces even during the war. Pak General Aslam Beg's letter is the proof," she said.

Claiming Khaleda had close relations with the defeated forces of 1971 Liberation War, she said, "When Pakistani army officer Janjua (Major General Iftikhar Khan Janjua) died, she sent a condolence message. Imagine how close they were. Think about it a little bit."

"But one thing you must remember is that the defeated powers will never rise again in Bangladesh. The people will not let that happen," she said.

She pledged that the trial of war criminals would move forward. "Those murderers will not be allowed to go scot free. We have executed verdicts and will continue to do so."

Criticising Khaleda's celebration of her birthday on Aug 15, the National Mourning Day, she said, "Only someone with a twisted and sick mind could celebrate birthday on Aug 15."

Hasina termed Khaleda a 'murderer' because many people had lost their lives in the violence during BNP-Jamaat's movement last year.

"She killed hundreds of people in the name of preventing an election. Her thirst for blood can never be quenched, just like her masters, the Pakistani occupation army, who massacred this country," the Awami League president said.

"After 2001 when the BNP chairperson and her son came to power, killing people became their only task."

She spoke about the Aug 21 grenade attack, the murders of Shah AMS Kibria, Ahsanullah Master, attacks on the Hindu community, the Aug 17 serial bomb blasts and many other incidents.

"I have come face to face with death many times. I do not fear death," Hasina said.

She said she had turned her grief into power and sacrificed her life for the nation.