Hasina recalls mother’s role in Mujib’s career

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangamata (Mother of Bengal) Sheikh Fazilatunnesa was the source of encouragement, power and courage for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his efforts to uplift the people of this country.“My mother always encouraged him (Bangabandhu) to enter politics for the people of this country...she never held him back...she never cared about her own interests...she never thought about herself,” she said.The prime minister was addressing a function marking the 87th birth anniversary of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa at Osmani Memorial Hall.She said Bangamata stayed in the background and he became a great leader because she was beside him.While talking about the influence of Bangabandhu’s wife in his political life, Hasina, the eldest child of Bangabandhu’s family, said Bangamata helped Bangabandhu take various important political decisions.She mentioned that he took her advise before delivering the historic address at Suhrawardy Udyan in 1971.She said Bangabandhu used to learn about the party through his wife when she met him in jail during the occupation.The prime minister said her mother sent her with a message to Bangabandhu to reject the a parole proposal in the Agartala Conspiracy case. Bangabandhu rejected the parole proposal.Later, the Pakistan government was forced to release Bangabandhu unconditionally.She mentioned that the Father of the Nation was frequently imprisoned on political grounds, but during that time, she played an important role in administering the Awami League.The prime minister recalled that during the liberation war in 1971, Bangamata had faced the situation with patience, courage and wisdom while her husband remained imprisoned in Pakistan.Bangabandhu wrote in details about his better half in his Unfinished Memoir.She also said Bangamata, established rehabilitation centres for women who were abused during the liberation war while Bangabandhu was rebuilding the war-ravaged country after the country’s independence.Bangamata will remain in the heart of the nation and will be ever remembered for her sacrifice, patriotism and love of the people, she added. State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki presided over the function organised by the ministry of women and children affairs.Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs Ministry Rebeka Momen, chairperson of National Women Organisation Momtaz Begum and secretary of the ministry Nasima Begum spoke, on the occasion.A documentary on the life and works of Bangamata was screened on the occasion. On this day in 1930, she was born into a Muslim family at Tungipara village of the then Gopalganj sub-division in Faridpur district. She was assassinated along with Bangabandhu and most of her family members on August 15, 1975.