Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said that those who were involved in the killings of hundreds of Bangladesh Air Force members through illegal court martial in 1977 are getting punishment for their crimes.

Punishment is also being meted out to the perpetrators of arson violence and terrorism carried out in the name of movement launched by BNP and Jamaat during 2013-15, she said.

“Those who were involved in injustice got punishment, getting punishment and will get punishment,” she said at an event at her official residence Ganobhavan.

The prime minister was talking to the family members of Bangladesh Air Force personnel who had been sentenced to death through illegal court martial in 1977 during the regime of then military ruler General Ziaur Rahman.

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Victims and relatives of arson terrorism by BNP-Jamaat nexus in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were also present there.

Hasina said that she is empathetic to the family members of the victims as she and her younger sister lost father, mother, brothers, sister-in-laws and other family members in a day on August 15 in 1975 when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated.

She said Bangabandhu endured life-long sufferings for Bangladesh and its people.

“My only aim is to ensure that people of this country remain in good shape,” she said.

She regretted that arson terrorism and fire incidents at market places are taking place causing immense miseries to the innocent people at a time the country is moving towards economic prosperity.

“Those who are doing this are incurring hatred of the whole nation. I think that Allah will also not tolerate this,” she said.

She said that BNP-Jamaat’s activities had been as barbaric as was done by Pakistani military. 

“Ziaur Rahman used to write the verdict of capital punishment while smiling,” she said.

She said that after that Zia’s wife and then their sons resorted to arson terrorism as they do not want any good for the country and its people.

She mentioned that she can understand the pain of the family members and relatives of the victims. “I am always beside you, I share your pain,” she said.

Nurunnahar Begum, wife of victim Sargent Delwar Hossain, and Maksuda Parvin, daughter of Sargent Morshedul Alam, also spoke at the programme.

A heart-rending situation prevailed while the relatives spoke. A visibly moved PM consoled them with motherly affection.

Victim of arson terrorism Sub Inspector Moqbul Hossain and Mohammad Salauddin Bhuiyan expressed their feelings in the programme.

Two separate documentaries on these subjects were also screened at the programme.

The prime minister presented Eid gifts to the victims and relatives.