Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the nation yesterday evening (17 July). The
full text of her address is given below:
“Bismillahir
Rahmanir Rahim Dear Countrymen, Assalamu Alaikum On this holy day of the Hijri
year 61, Hazrat Imam Hussain, the Grandson of the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad
Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, and his family members embraced martyrdom in the
ground of Karbala on the banks of the river Euphrates. I am paying profound
tributes to them. On August 15, 1975, another Karbala was created on the soil
of Bengal through the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman along with his family members. I am paying profound tributes to
those who were martyred. I pay tributes to 30 lakh martyrs and two lakh
repressed mothers and sisters in the Great War of Liberation in 1971. Dear
Countrymen, Today, I appear before you with a very heavy heart. We are working
tirelessly for the economic and social development of the people of independent
Bangladesh obtained in exchange of the blood of lakhs of martyrs. We had been
able to change the destiny of the people of Bangladesh in the last 15 years. We
started the journey of providing better life to the people by ensuring
education, knowledge, use of science-technology and fulfilling the basic needs
of people by ensuring food-clothing-shelter-healthcare-education. We had also
achieved many successes. We had been able to reach Bangladesh to a dignified
position in the global stage. Even after that, we have a long way to go. When
the people of Bangladesh return to a bit of peace and comfort, sometimes
something happens that is very painful. In 2018, in view of the student
movement, the government issued a circular scrapping the quota system in
government jobs. Subsequently, the High Court cancelled the 2018 government
circular to reinstate the quota in favour of the freedom fighters. The
government appealed to the Apex Court to uphold the circular and the honorable
court fixed a date for hearing. Meantime, the students again started a movement
with the demand for quota reform. The government has shown enough patience and
tolerance since the beginning of this movement. Rather, police cooperated to
ensure the safety of the protestors. When the protestors expressed their wish
to submit a memorandum to His Excellency the President, they were given the
opportunity and security arrangements were ensured. It was a matter of sorrow
that some vested quarters started different kinds of statements and terrorist
activities to gain their ambitious intentions centering this movement. As the
matter has been appealed before the higher court, I call upon all to keep
patience. It is a matter of great regret that some quarters took the
opportunity of this movement to get involved in terrorist acts aiming to
fulfill their unexpected high ambitions. As a result, all the incidents that
took place centering the movement of these young students were very painful and
sad. How many precious lives were lost unnecessarily? Who knows more than me
the ache of losing your loved ones? I sought eternal peace of the souls of
those who died and expressed deepest condolence to their family members. I condemn
every killing. All the incidents that happened were never expected. In
Chattogram, terrorists brutally threw down students from the roof of a
multi-storey building to kill them and cut tendons of many students. Many were
hit with sticks and sharp weapons, while one died and many have been fighting
the death. The residences of the vice-chancellors and halls of Dhaka, Rangpur
and Rajshahi universities were set on fire and vandalised. General passersby
and shopkeepers were attacked. The movement of patients-carrying ambulances was
halted. Attacks were carried out on the halls of female students and they were
assaulted. The provosts of residential halls were intimidated and attacked.
Desperately, attacks were launched on teachers. I do believe these terrorists
had no connections with those involved in the quota reform movement. Rather,
terrorists entered them and created the situation of conflict and anarchy.
Those involved in such incidents will be brought to justice after identifying
them. I will provide the necessary support for the livelihood to the families
of the victims who were killed. I unequivocally declare that those who launched
killing, looting and terrorist activities, whoever they are, will be punished
accordingly. I further declare that a judicial inquiry will be conducted for
the interest of fair trial and justice in all the unexpected incidents
including the murders. Investigation will be conducted to find out on whose
instigation flared the conflict, who for
what purpose pushed the country towards an anarchic situation. I am very
concerned about the safety of the protesting tender age students. These
terrorists can harm them by creating an atmosphere of conflict at any time. So
I would appeal to the parents, guardians and teachers of the students to be
vigilant about the safety of their children. At the same time, keep special
vigilance on the safety of the students of all educational institutions. The
government appealed to the Apex Court against the High Court verdict. A hearing
date has been fixed in the Appellate Division. The court has created an
opportunity to hear the students if they have. There is an opportunity to
resolve the issue through this legal process. Despite the opportunity to
resolve this legal process, do not allow the perpetrators to resort to conflict
taking to the streets. I specially request everyone to wait with patience till
the Apex Court verdict is delivered. I do believe our students will get justice
from the higher court, they will not be disappointed. InshaAllah, we will build
our beloved motherland a Smart Bangladesh with the cooperation of all with the
spirit of Liberation War. I once again express my deepest condolences to those
who lost their lives in the unfortunate incidents and conveyed my sympathy to the
families.
Khoda
Hafez. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu May Bangladesh live forever.”