Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said one should be excited about the US visa policy as the policy is applicable against the persons who would create any obstacle to holding free and fair elections.
“The cooperation and multidimensional relations between Bangladesh and the USA are being strengthened day by day. Our relationship with the USA is very good. And the recent meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the US President proved it. So there is no reason to become excited by anybody for the visa policy or something else like that,” he said.
None should be excited about the US visa policy: Hasan
The minister said this while addressing a memorial meeting at Jatiya Press Club (JPC) here. Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote (BSJ) organized the meeting marking the 91st death anniversary of Pritilata Waddedar, one of the pioneers of the anti-British movement in the sub-continent.
Dr Hasan said BNP is making different statements every day, mostly useless. Many countries had opposed the independence of Bangladesh. But the freedom fighters achieved it under the leadership of Bangabandhu, he added.
Like that, he said, conspiracies are being hatched against the country till now. But the country would march ahead under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina despite all conspiracies, he continued.
The information minister said the BNP was the new platform for those who opposed independence in 1971. And, Jamaat-e-Islami, which took arms in favour of Pakistan, is the ally of BNP.
He said BNP-Jamaat is now busy with hatching conspiracy and trying to foil the upcoming polls.
But, he said, the upcoming poll would be held on time despite all conspiracies and it will be held in a free, fair and neutral manner.
“We are welcoming the foreign observers to monitor the poll. But there is no problem if they don’t come,” he said adding that “the poll is ours and we will decide how the election will be held.”
“We don’t need to learn about democracy from anyone. We know the democratic norms. Democracy must be continued under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina,” he said.
About anti-British revolutionary Pritilata and Surya Sen, Dr Hasan said, “Rebels like Pritilata and Surya Sen are our inspiration against anti-state activities.”
Paying glowing tribute to Pritilata, the minister said Pritilata was a member of the revolutionary movement of Surya Sen in 1932, and she planned to attack the Pahartali European Club which had a signboard that read ‘Dogs and Indians are not allowed’. Surya Sen deputed Pritilata to lead the attack, he added.
Dr Hasan said, On the day of the attack, Pritilata attired a male dress. After the operation, she blew the whistle and ensured the return of all attackers from the spot. As Pritilata was preparing to return in the last she was shot by an English soldier from a hiding position.
All members of the team managed to come back safely. Being injured Pritilata chose to commit suicide by eating a ‘potassium cyanide’ to avert British captivity,” said Hasan.
The minister said, “I’ve read the books on Pritilata and anti-British movements in Chattogram during my childhood and I had a dream of becoming a revolutionary at the teenage being imbued with the activities of Pritilata, Surya Sen and other revolutionaries. Out of the dream, later I joined in the student politics”.
AL Jatiya Parishad member Advocate Boloram Poddar, AL Dhaka South City unit former general secretary Shahe Alam Murad, Ekushey Padak winners Manoranjan Ghoshal and Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury, Dhaka Union of Journalists acting president Manik Lal Ghosh and BSJ general secretary Arun Sarker Rana, among others, addressed the meeting with BSJ president Mohammad Rafiqul Alam in the chair.
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