Opposition, treasury bench MPs laud Father of Nation in Parliament

Treasury and opposition bench MPs today lauded Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his extraordinary political life, leadership and utmost sacrifice for liberating Bangladesh.

A number of MPs, including Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, however, said Bangladesh is not on the right track as dreamt by the Bangabandhu due to widespread of corruption and failure to ensure a secular nature of the state.

The MPs were speaking in the House participating on the resolution brought by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament on Monday.

Hasina brought a resolution under rule 147 of the Rules of Procedure to pay solemn tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through a special discussion on his colourful political life, activities and his philosophy in the House.

"Let us pay our solemn respects to the greatest Bengali of all times Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through a special discussion in Parliament over his colorful political and work life and philosophy on the occasion of Mujib Borsho celebration marking his birth centenary in 2020," said the Leader of the House concluding the resolution.

Taking part in the discussion, Menon said Bangabandhu had said in Parliament that politics based on religion will not work in this country.

"Bangabandhu's remarks are very relevant now in Mujib Year. I see on YouTube that 'Amar Sonar Bangla' is being Islamised. Hefajat is saying that the country will have to be run according to their words. The demand for enacting blasphemy law is now rising," he said.

The Workers Party president also said Bangabandhu was strict against corruption.

Menon also said: "If we really want to remember Bangabandhu, we have to be in favor of the oppressed. Thanks to the prime minister we are on the path of development during this Covid period. But at the same time inequality in the society is growing. The poor are getting poorer. I also saw that business interests were fulfilled regarding vaccines of Covid-19.

"Bangabandhu does not belong only to the Awami League. Bangabandhu is not a property of any party. He is the father of the nation."

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haq in his speech said that Ziaur Rahman-Mushtaq clique not only protected the killers of Bangabandhu but also encouraged them by providing them with jobs.

"The assassination of Bangabandhu is not just the assassination of any person. Those who did not believe in Bangladesh, killed him."

He demanded that the real killers of Bangabandhu be revealed through forming a Truth Commission.

Ruling AL MPs--Tofail Ahmed, land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali, Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam, among others also took part in today's discussion.