Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on Tuesday said that the people who had looted funds meant for orphans through Zia Foundation and misappropriated public money could never work for welfare of the people. Speaking at a discussion marking the National Mourning Day, Sheikh Hasina, president of the Awami League, castigated the opposition leader Khaleda Zia for celebrating a 'fake birthday' on August 15, the day the country's founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated. Sheikh Hasina said the BNP chairperson started celebrating a 'fake birthday on August 15 since 1996 and added that that only a person of low mentality could make fun of the National Mourning Day. She said that Khaleda's celebrating the fake birthday on the national Mourning Day was nothing but an expression of her solidarity with the killers of Bangabandhu. Sheikh Hasina said, those, who cheer by celebrating 'false' birth day on national mourning day, can do no welfare for the country. She also said that unbridled corruption by the previous Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government was responsible for the bad shape of the road network, power crisis and other problems. She said her government was trying to tackle the situation. Bangladesh Awami League organised the discussion at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in observance of the 36th anniversary of death of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 'They [BNP] looted the fund of Zia Foundation brought from abroad in the name of orphans. Her [Khaleda] sons were involved in money laundering. How can they work for the welfare of the country,' said the prime minister. She said Ziaur Rahman had rewarded the killers of Bangabandhu by giving them jobs [in the country's missions] abroad and gave them indemnity. 'But the trial of the killers could not be stopped.' 'The BNP called hartal on the day the verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case was pronounced and tried to stand in the way of the trial,' said Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the aim of her government is to ensure the economic emancipation of people as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the country to independence in 1971. "Now our aim is to attain economic emancipation," she told. She said her government is providing subsidy on fuel, electricity and food grains so that the people of the country can live a better life. "We are providing subsidy to ensure that the prices of essentials remain under the commoners' reach." In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said her government is continuing OMS and fair price cards and such other measurers to ensure food for the poor. "We're trying hard to ensure a good, peaceful environment so that all can have an enjoyable Eid, and I seek cooperation from you all," she said. Referring to various conspiracies, she said people should remain alert so that no vested quarter could snatch their rights. Admitting that the country was experiencing some problems, she said her government was trying to solve them. 'It is true there are problems in the country, including bad shape of roads and highways, power crisis and price hike and the government is trying to tackle them to ease the people's suffering,' she said. Sheikh Hasina also said that the government was giving subsidy to power, food and agriculture sectors and giving 10 kilograms of rice free of cost to the poor in the month of Ramadan. Presided over by deputy leader of the opposition Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, AL leader Suranjit Sengupta, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, AL general secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, former Home Minister Mohammad Nasim, DU VC AAMS Arefin Siddique, Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon, JSD chief Hasanul Huq Inu, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, AL leaders MA Aziz and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, among others, spoke at the meeting. Earlier, a one-minute silence was observed to show respect to Bangabandhu and others killed in the August 15 massacre.
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