Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday wondered why the August-15 carnage was carried out in cold blood and what the crimes of her father Bangabandhu, mother Bangamata and brothers were!

“One question always crosses my mind -- what actually had driven the killers to stage these killings, what were the crimes of my father, mother and brothers?” she questioned while addressing a programme arranged marking the 91th birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib.

Read:Bangabandhu: Bangladesh’s liberator as proclaimer of independence

The theme of the day this year is ‘Bangamata: a fearless companion in the crisis and struggle’.

The prime minister joined the virtual programme from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other participants got connected from the Osmani Memorial Auditorium and Deputy Commissioner’s Office of Gopalganj.

She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib and her brothers sacrificed their lives for peace and happiness and the independence and economic freedom of the nation. “But that Bangalees killed him, murdered him --why?” she said in an emotion-choked voice.

Hasina, the elder daughter of Bangabandhu and Bangamata, recalled that Bangamata contributed a lot towards advancing the struggle of independence with patience, courage and right and timely decisions and implementing those. “My mother contributed a lot to every movement.”

She also said Bangamata encouraged Bangabandhu throughout her life enabling him to devote himself to work for the country and the nation.

Mentioning that Bangamata always believed that every woman should receive education and attain financial solvency, the prime minister said, “She thought that only shouting for rights wouldn’t bring anything for the womenfolk. For attaining the rights, all women should take education and get economic emancipation to stand on their own feet…she had felt that very well.”

Hasina said Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib ignored her personal desires and demands in many ways to create a scope for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to devotedly work for the country. Bangamata had no personal demand and never annoyed Bangabandhu with family matters.”

Read: Five women receive 'Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award'

Recalling the role of Bangamata in the country’s independence, she said Bangamata had taken the right decisions in various critical times in politics.

“When a matter of taking a tough decision came up in politics on various occasions, it’s very sad to say many of our senior and experienced leaders had failed to take the right decisions or about to take wrong decisions. My mother had taken the right decisions at the right time. Alongside dealing with family affairs, Bangamata used to take care of the families of the detained and ailing leaders, and arranged their treatment,” she said.

Hasina said her mother used to guide the organisation (AL) with competence (particularly when Bangabandhu was in jail) and give the right decisions.

Hasina mentioned her role, particularly in three historical events, saying that Bangamata asked Bangabandhu to turn down his parole granted by Pakistani rulers to join the discussion in Pakistan in the late 1960s after Bangabandhu had been arrested in the Agartala “Conspiracy” Case.

She said her mother played a big role in mobilizing public opinion, organizing the party, waging movements, particularly the movement of students and workers during the Agartala “Conspiracy” Case and after the Six-Point Demand.

Reiterating that her mother always led a simple life, Hasina said Bangamata never boasted of being the wife of the Prime Minister.

Bangamata never lived in the official residence of the Prime Minister as she never wanted her children to be habituated to a lavish life. “She never had any demand,” Hasina said.

Professor of Bangabandhu Chair at Bangladesh University of Professionals Dr Syed Anwar Hossain presented the keynote paper at the function on Bangamata while chairman of Jatiya Mahila Sangstha Chemon Ara Tyab discussed her life and works.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, MP, chaired the programme while Children Affairs Secretary Md Sayedul Islam spoke on the occasion.

Read: History has forgotten those who tried to erase Bangabandhu, says Quader

At the function, a documentary was screened highlighting the life and works of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, Deputy Commissioner of Gopalganj Shahida Sultana distributed sewing machines among insolvent women and provided cash to destitute women through mobile banking channel ‘Nagad’ in the ancestral district of Bangamata.