Recalling the moments on her return to homeland in May 1981 after six-year exile following Bangabandhu’s assassination in 1975, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she came back to restore the democratic process of to Bangladesh.
We have always engaged in struggle to establish democracy. Because, without democracy, it is not possible for a country to advance socioeconomically, she told Awami League (AL) leaders on Friday (May 17).
Hasina, who is the president of ruling AL, was addressing the leaders of her party and its associate bodies when they went to her Ganobhaban residence in the capital to greet her on her homecoming day, state news agency BSS reports.
The prime minister called for maintaining the people’s confidence and trust in the AL in the future through continuation of its welfare activities aimed at changing the fate of the countrymen.
“To gain confidence and trust of the people is the most important thing for any political party…. it is our great achievement that we gained confidence and trust of the people staying in power, which usually does not happen,” she said.
The AL president said the last general election is the evidence of her party’s popularity as the people voted for it in large numbers because they had realised that the party had done huge works for the overall development of the country and to change their fate.
The premier called upon all to remain vigilant as the anti-liberation forces couldn’t go to state power again. “We all should remain alert as the anti-liberation forces and war criminals couldn’t assume power again to play with the fate of people,” she said.
“I want our leaders and activists to work in unison to maintain the people’s confidence and trust in the party,” she added.
She asked the party leaders and activists to prepare themselves by acquiring proper knowledge to this end.
On this day (May 17) in 1981, Sheikh Hasina returned home after six years of exile following the country’s saddest history of killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family inmates on Aug 15, 1975.
Senior leaders of the party greeted the Prime Minister, also the president of AL, by presenting bouquets. Leaders of different front organizations of the party followed them.
The AL has become the number one political party of the country over the years despite facing several ill attempts to destroy the party, the premier said.
“AL has been established as an institution in the subcontinent,” she added.
She urged the party leaders to highlight before the people the development projects and programs taken by the government over the years for their welfare.
She also urged the party workers to stay beside the people always and mould public opinion in favour of the party to achieve success. While describing ups and downs of her political journey over the last 38 years, Sheikh Hasina became emotional time and again. She urged the party leaders to choose her successor.
The premier said she becomes emotional when she remembers the gathering of millions of people at the airport to receive her braving heavy rain and storm.
“Love and affection of the people of Bangladesh inspired me to go ahead,” she said.
She said the prime objective of her politics was to return the power to the people from military junta and bring smile on the faces of the masses.