'The people are waiting to see Sheikh Hasina tried': State Minister Mir Shahe Alam in Bogura
State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said the people of the country are waiting to see Sheikh Hasina brought to trial. He said the former prime minister, ousted through the July mass uprising, is currently staying in India.
He made the remarks on Saturday (24 October) noon while speaking as chief guest at a gathering of well-wishers at Radhakantapur Government Primary School ground in Saidpur union of Mokamtola upazila, Bogura.
Mir Shahe Alam said threats are made from time to time that Sheikh Hasina will return to the country. 'We too want her to return,' the state minister said — in the context of moving her trial process forward.
In his speech he said: 'History can never be erased, nor can the truth be hidden forever. No matter how hard the Awami League tries, the historical truth that martyred President Ziaur Rahman is the proclaimer of Bangladesh's independence can never be changed.'
He also recalled former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, saying she remained uncompromising all her life.
On Sheikh Hasina, the state minister drew a comparison. He said that on the day Prime Minister Tarique Rahman returned to the country, countless people gathered spontaneously in Dhaka to welcome him — whereas the opposite picture was seen with Sheikh Hasina, who was ultimately forced to leave the country.
In his view, these two events clearly prove where the people's real love and support lie.
At one point in his speech, criticising Jamaat-e-Islami, Mir Shahe Alam said: 'We may not be able to guarantee paradise, but we want to guarantee development. And Jamaat can only tempt people with paradise.'
Raising allegations against Jamaat-e-Islami, he said the party talks big but never took any practical initiative to ensure financial security for mosque imams, muezzins and khadems. In contrast, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman himself arranged a monthly honorarium allowance for these religious workers.
The gathering, chaired by Mokamtola upazila BNP convener Mahmud Hasan Towfiq, was also addressed by Shibganj upazila BNP president S M Tajul Islam, general secretary Advocate Abdul Wahab, Mokamtola upazila BNP member secretary Rokan-ud-Doula Rubel, Shibganj upazila BNP student affairs secretary Mir Shakrul Alam Shimanto, municipal BNP general secretary Abdul Karim and Shibganj upazila Jubo Dal president Khalid Hasan Arman, among leaders of the party and its associate bodies.
Before the gathering, marking the birthday of Prime Minister's daughter Zaima Rahman, the Mir Shahe Alam Foundation provided eye treatment services to 2,000 people at Saidpur High School ground.
The state minister's remarks come at a time when Sheikh Hasina's trial and her return to the country are under discussion in political circles. Local leaders and activists believe his comments have added a new dimension to that discussion.
