On Rahman’s 105th birth anniversary, Hasina says today Bangladesh in hands of ‘traitors’

On the occasion of ‘Father of Bangladesh’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth anniversary on Monday, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina alleged that today independent Bangladesh is in the hands of “traitors and anti-liberation forces”.

The ousted Bangladesh PM, who is also Rahman’s daughter, alleged Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus led a regime of making Bangladeshis suffer. “Under the brutal regime of the occupying Muhammad Yunus government, the people of Bangladesh are suffering,” she alleged.

In her message on Rahman’s 105th birth anniversary, which is also celebrated as National Children’s Day in Bangladesh, Hasina said, “Today, independent Bangladesh is in the hands of traitors and anti-liberation forces. But even they know that Bangabandhu (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) cannot be erased from the hearts of Bengalis. His ideals are eternal and indestructible. He was, he is, and he will forever remain in the emotions, memories and consciousness of Bengali people. Even after demolishing the historic house at 32 Dhanmondi, they have not found peace.”

The Awami League chief, who has sought refuge in India, said, even 50 years after Rahman’s physical assassination, “the illuminating ideals he upheld continue to strike fear in the hearts of his killers.”

“That is why they are now attempting to erase all symbols of him — his statues, murals, sculptures, and images — burying his name and destroying his legacy, distorting history,” she said.

Hasina said Rahman’s name has become a prohibited name in today’s Bangladesh. “However, the dream of his Golden Bengal is now on the verge of destruction at the hands of a few misguided, self-serving individuals. They have misled our younger generations for their own gain,” she said.

Hasina said today a “selfish group has infiltrated student movements, exploiting them for their illicit gains while systematically destroying our Golden Bengal through domestic and foreign conspiracies”.

In a message on Rahman’s birth anniversary, the Awami League posted on X: “…May all obstacles on the path to a beautiful future be removed. Let patriotism spread in the hearts of every child, let the golden Bangladesh of Bangabandhu's dream be built.”