The nation’s chaos, according to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was a part of a plot to totally destroy the economy and turn Bangladesh back into a nation of beggars.
“It might be their conspiracy to make us again a nation of beggars by crippling the country’s economy completely,” she said.
The prime minister delivered the moving speech following a visit to the injured victims of terror attacks that occurred during the complete shutdown that served as the focal point of the quota reform movement. The National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), also known as Pongu Hospital, is located in Sher-e-Banglanagar.
Later on, she paid visits to the Department of Disaster Management, the toll plaza at the Mohakhali road, and the ravaged Setu Bhaban.
Obaidul Quader, the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, was among those in attendance at the Setu Bhaban.
Referring to casualties during the nationwide destruction, Sheikh Hasina said, “Everything (dozens of government establishments built to ensure comfort to the people and generate employment) had been gutted into ashes. Today, so many people gave their lives and so many people have become crippled.”
The prime minister said the BNP-Jamaat clique did such incidents in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023 and killed a number of people by carrying out widespread violence and arson terrorism.
“Every time police personnel were their targets,” she said.
This time, she claimed, they killed police officers and an activist for the Awami League inhumanely and then hanged them, taking advantage of the quota reform campaign.The prime minister noted that she had asked the students to be patient on several occasions, as the government and the supreme court will grant their wish.
She questioned why the government jobs were still completely closed in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to maintain the status quo on the quota problem.
“I don’t know why their shutdown isn’t stopped despite all of their demands are met,” she said.
The premier said she wanted to know from the countrymen who will now shoulder the responsibilities of the casualties and the massive destruction.
She questioned what was her fault?
The premier continued that she has been tirelessly working to change the fate of the people and elevate their living standard.
“But, I seek justice from the countrymen,” she said.
She said, “The miscreants ransacked the government buildings, which were constructed to guarantee public safety and ease of life as well as to make the nation developed and prosperous.”
Due to vandalism at metro train stations, people—including students—now have to endure hardships, she said.
The prime minister restated that the people must oppose those who brought about their pain.Regarding the casualties, she stated that she never wanted a mother to lose her child because she was aware of the suffering associated with losing loved ones because she had lost everything on August 15, 1975.The prime minister reaffirmed that her government will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the injured during the widespread chaos receive the right care after touring the Pongu Hospital.
She said the government will provide artificial hands and legs to them who lost those in the rampage as they can return to their normal life.
“I will do my best,” she added.
During her visit to the Pongu Hospital, she also enquired about the treatment of the injured people.
The prime minister was seen hugging the female relatives of the injured people to console them with giving assurance of extending all sorts of assistance to ensure their proper treatment and their rehabilitation.
Nitor Director Prof. Dr. Kazi Shamim Uzzaman apprised the prime minister of the treatment of the victims.
Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen, State Minister for Health Dr Rokeya Sultana, former Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque, PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah and PM’s Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan, among others, were present.
