I know pain of losing near and dear ones: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she knows the pain of losing near and dear ones as she lost everything on August 15 in 1975.

She made the remarks as the chief guest at a voluntary blood donation programme and discussion and doa mahfil at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the city's Farmgate area on Thursday.

Bangladesh Krishak League (BKL) organised the programme ahead of the National Mourning Day to be observed on August 15.

Sheikh Hasina, also President of the ruling Awami League (AL), called on the UN to send their experts to probe into every matter.
“If any country wants, they can also send experts. I want fair investigation into the matters. Punishment will have to be taken against those who are responsible for that,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the militants from around Dhaka carried out killings one the one hand and one the other hand, launched destruction of the public establishments built for welfare of the people.

She said the militants damaged and torched BTV Bhaban, Setu Bhaban, BTRC Bhaban, metrorail, toll plazas of expressway and Hanif Flyover, Covid-19 hospital, a water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, and many other establishments.

The violence claimed lives of many people of different professions that include policemen and journalists, she said, adding the militants even hanged police and an AL activist after they killed them.

he prime minister said they will not tolerate anymore the destruction of the properties they built and playing ducks and drakes with the fate of the countrymen.

The countrywide mayhem was carried out to tarnish the image of Bangladesh abroad, she also said.

She continued that the perpetrators even conducted searches for the police and AL leaders and activists to attack them during the widespread mayhem.

AL's Advisory Council Member Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, and Agriculture and Cooperative Affairs Secretary Faridur Nahar Laily, among others, spoke on the occasion.

BKL President Samir Chanda presided over the event moderated by General Secretary Umme Kulsum Smriti.