DHAKA, Aug 5 : A year after a student uprising that threw away her government, former Bangladesh Prime Minister and leader of the Awami League Sheikh Hasina today issued an open-letter to her countrymen, stating that the country has overcome adversity before, and in the face of hardships will rise again, stronger, more united, and more determined to build a democracy that truly serves its people, reports Awami League media Daily Republic.
In her open letter to the “honest, hardworking, and patriotic people of Bangladesh,” Hasina launched a scathing condemnation of the new interim government, stating that the nation witnessed the violent seizure of a hard-fought democracy, with an unelected government taking power through unconstitutional means.
Calling for marking the whole month as a time of mourning, the Awami League said that it is observing August 5 as the day when democracy was destroyed and students, people, and police were killed and injured due to the July conspiracy.
The former PM in her address said, “It was a dark moment in our history, an affront to the will of the people, and a betrayal of the trust between citizens and the state.
“While they may have taken power, they will never take away our spirit, our resolve, or our destiny. I can assure you of that.”
Thanking her countrymen for displaying unwavering courage in the face of a corrupt, extremist, and oppressive regime, she said “You have refused to be silenced. You have stood up for democracy, for freedom, and for the future we all deserve. I am constantly inspired by your courage and your love for our country.
“Though this past year has tested us, it has also revealed the unbreakable bond between our people and the values of democracy. We have endured hardship, but in that hardship, we have found unity and purpose.
“Let us never forget that power belongs to the people, and no regime can suppress the will of a nation forever. Our struggle is not over, but our cause is just.”
Noting that that Dhaka will regain the freedom it lost a year back, she remarked “Let this anniversary not be a day of retrospection, but a rallying cry for a brighter tomorrow. I believe in you. I believe in Bangladesh. And I believe that our best days are yet to come.”
The Awami League Bangladesh’s oldest party, predating its very formation was banned by the interim government, preventing them from participating in the upcoming polls, with a torrent of violence having been inflicted on the party, resulting in thousands of its cadre being killed and far more arrested.
(UNI)
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