Prime Minister has said there is no instance that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman fired a single gunshot against the Pakistani forces during the Liberation War in 1971.
“Ziaur Rahman -- yes, he was a sector commander in the Liberation War. But it was after Khaled Musharraf got injured that Zia was made the sector commander," she said.
“But he never particularly fired a shot at the Pakistani army. There’s no precedent for this. No one will be able to show an example of it,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The Awami League chief came up with the statement while addressing an event through a video conference from Ganabhaban on Tuesday, report bdnews24.com and BSS.
Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, organised the discussion to observe the 46th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium.
She also blamed then army chief Zia for the assassination of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family.
"After 1975, for those who violated the Constitution and illegally seized power through assassinations, coups, conspiracies — there were some traitors and hypocrites in our party like Khondaker Mushtaque [Ahmad] and others — Ziaur Rahman was their strength," she said.
"They admitted as much in the interview they gave to the BBC after Aug 15. Not only that but many newspapers have also reported that Ziaur Rahman was with the killers all the time,” the prime minister said.
“But Zia was just a major. It was only thanks to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib that Ziaur Rahman was promoted to major general. If the country was still called Pakistan, he would have to retire as a major," she added.
Highlighting the sacrifice of her mother Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib, she said her mother was beside Bangabandhu throughout her life.
"My father could fully engage in the service of the country as he got such a companion beside him . . . this is a rare instance," she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, directed the BCL activists and leaders to work for the country being imbued with patriotism and follow the ideals of the Father of the Nation.
She praised the BCL leaders and activists as they stood beside the people during the COVID-19 pandemic in different ways such as helping in paddy harvesting, providing oxygen cylinders, ensuring treatment for sick people, burial and supplying food.