The failure to protect Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman still haunts me, says former army chief KM Safiullah.
Published : 08 Nov 2015, 09:42 PM
Bir Uttam Major General Safiullah (retd) headed the Bangladesh Army in 1975 when a group of rogue officers led a coup and assassinated the Bangabandhu along with most of his family.
Speaking at an event organised by the 'Sector Commanders Forum' at the National Museum, Safiullah said: "Much responsibility rested on my shoulders as I was then the army chief. But I could not do what I should have done."
Safiullah is the chairman of the pro-liberation group, Sector Commanders Forum. He commanded a sector during the 1971 Liberation War.
"I was a prisoner at the Bangabhaban between August 15-17 and was not allowed to move out. Then I was sacked on August 24 and Zia (Ziaur Rahman) became army chief. The jail killings happened at a time when Zia headed the army," said Safiullah.
He demanded a fair trial of those involved in the November 7 military putsch and those involved in the Jail killings (assassination of four top Awami League leaders).
"A fair trial is the least we can expect to honour the memory of those killed in these violent events. We expect this government to do that," said Safiullah.
"There are some organisations who should never be anywhere close to power. The Jamaat-e-Islami, which still works for Pakistan, is one such organisation," Safiullah said.
"I rebelled after having served in the Pakistan army for 21 years. While serving there, we only faced discrimination and humiliation. So the decision to revolt came naturally; nobody had to tell us to do that," said the veteran freedom fighter.
Safiullah demanded punishment for those who had been convicted for war crimes initially in 1972.
"Twenty-two of those convicted for war crimes were let off after the 1975 coup. They are all around us now. This government should bring them to book."
Another former army chief Lt Gen (retd) M Harun Ur Rashid lambasted the BNP for observing Nov 7 as "National Revolution and Solidarity Day".
"National solidarity was achieved only once -- in 1971. Never before or since," said Harun Ur Rashid.
"Nov 7 is not about solidarity but about dividing our society. Apart from the jail killings, many brave freedom fighters like Khaled Musharaff were murdered."
"If it is about solidarity, then all freedom fighters should be coming together on this day. That is not the case."