The assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family members in 1975 plunged the country into a series of disasters, speakers said in a webinar. The political landscape witnessed a complete U-turn after August, 1975 with all out attempts were employed to destroy the spirit of the Liberation War - secularism and progressive ideologies, they said. “The brutality of the August 15 killings shocked the world and devastated the nation’s psyche. It is the beginning of the darkest period in Bangladesh history with a military government taking over and murder of four national leaders in jail, coups and counter coups and ultimately the rehabilitation of August 15 killers through a special ordinance,” said Prof Shams Rahman of Australia’s RMIT university. Also read: Bangabandhu Foundation pays homage to ‘Father of Nation’ at Tungipara BNP’s founder Gen Ziaur Rahman was a key figure behind those spell of disasters descended on the country in the aftermath of that grisly killing, academics told at a discussion titled “1975 Bangladesh and the World: A Grand Reform and A Carnage” organised by Center for Research and Information (CRI).

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque has said a vested quarter made evil efforts to outshine Bangabandhu’s long struggle for the country’s Liberation War with a false campaign about the proclamation of independence by Ziaur Rahman. “This is unfortunate that a false campaign was carried out about the proclamation of the country’s independence after Bangabandhu’s assassination in 1975,” he said. Read:History has forgotten those who tried to erase Bangabandhu, says Quader Speaking at a webinar on Saturday night, the minister also said Ziaur Rahman had just read out the proclamation of independence on March 27. “But an effort was made to undermine Bangabandhu’s struggles of 24 years for the country's independence through it (false campaign about the proclamation of independence.” Out of his 24 years’ struggle, he said, Bangabandhu had been in jail for nearly 14 years and he gradually created the ground for the Liberation War through different movements and programmes. “Who did give Zia the right to declare independence? People gave only Bangabandhu the authority, right and mandate to proclaim the independence through casting their votes in the 1970 general election.” The virtual programme titled ‘Bangabandhu, Bangladesh and the Young Generation' was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Better Bangladesh Foundation (BBF) on Saturday night. BBF Founding Chairman Prof Masud A Khan moderated the webinar. Mozammel said Bangladesh and Bangabandhu have become synonymous – a single identical symbol to people. “He engaged himself in serving people since his childhood. The day Pakistanis denied Bengali, the mother language of 56 percent of people of the country, the young student leader, Sheikh Mujib, realised that we got Punjabi exploiters after getting rid of the British rule.” He said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first thought of liberating the country through founding Chhatra League on January 4, 1948. The minister said Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won the general election on December 7, 1970. “With this election, the Bengali nation gave Bangabandhu the unilateral mandate to lead the country and raise voice in favour of them. He then prepared the nation and finally proclaimed the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26. People joined the war responding to his call and liberated the country through a nine-month-long battle,” he said. Read:Second photo exhibition on life, legacy of Bangabandhu begins in Seoul Mozammel urged the young generation to know the history and the objectives of the country’s Liberation War and work for materialising Bangabandhu's dream of building a hunger- and poverty-free 'Sonar Bangla'. Bangladesh Bank’s former Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said Bangabandhu inspired the young generation to liberate the country under his able leadership. ”The average age of our freedom fighters was 21-22, and 78 percent of them were the children of farmers.” He said Bangabandhu thought about the welfare of the young generation throughout his life. “He had great feelings for the youth. He was the leader who could transmit energy among the youth.” Dr Atiur said Bangabandhu was the heart of Bangladesh and this heart was torn out on August 15, 1975, “The killers had thought the name of Bangabandhu will be eliminated through his assassination. But he returned among us very strongly and will always remain among us. Bangabandhu is an eternal name which will glitter always.” He said Bangladesh has been progressing fast under the able leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina. “The country now needs to focus on skills development of its workforce to face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). We also need to take initiatives for re-skilling and upskilling of our workforce involving the youths.” Atiur said the government should focus on improving the ease of doing business for boosting the country’s progress and creating more employment for the young generation. Read:Bangabandhu Corner to be established at Lovely Professional University in Punjab Bangladesh Ambassador to Jordan Nahida Sobhan said Bangabandhu was active over the issues of people’s rights and he demonstrated his high leadership quality since his early student life. “He took the country towards the independence gradually by preparing the nation for the Liberation War.” “So, I urge the young generation to know the life and works of Bangabandhu and get inspired to play a significant role in taking the country forward,” she said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the names of conspirators behind Bangabandhu’s assassination will come out one day, mentioning that there was a link between Khondaker Mostaq and Ziaur Rahman. "The trial of the killing has been held but the conspiracy has not yet been unearthed. It’ll come out one day for sure," she said.  Read: August 15 Tragedy: Month of Mourning begins The prime minister said this while opening a voluntary blood, plasma donation and food distribution programme arranged by the Bangladesh Krishak League in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32.  She inaugurated and addressed the programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. Krishak League arranged the voluntary programme and discussion as part of a month-long programme of Awami League and its associate organizations marking the National Mourning Day commemorating the martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of ruling Awami League, said her prime task was to put the killers, involved directly, under trial and materialise the dreams of the Father of the Nation regarding the country and its people. Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said she did not go to the path of digging out who was behind the conspiracy. "My first priority was to change the fate of poor and hungry people, and improve their livelihoods."