Highlighting the life of “towering personality” Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, they sought stronger partnership with the international community for a prosperous Bangladesh and a peaceful world.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs arranged the discussion marking the National Mourning Day.
Tofail Ahmed, a veteran Awami League leader and one of the closest associates of Bangabandhu, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and eminent historian Prof Dr Syed Anwar Husain spoke at the discussion.
The Foreign Minister hoped that the countries who are giving shelter to Bangabandhu’s self-confessed killers will be judicious to Bangladesh and hand them over.
Dr Momen said Bangladesh wants to strengthen relationship with its foreign friends. “We want a peaceful, pro-people and more sustainable world leaving no one behind. We can work together, in collaboration and partnership.”
He said Bangabandhu could achieve many things because of his personality and her daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is doing the same.
State Minister Alam described what happened on Aug 15, 1975 and after that and requested all to keep an eye on the self-confessed killers of Bangabandhu and respond to Bangladesh’s request.
Bangladesh expects the US and Canada to make a “difference” by sending back self-confessed killers of Father of the Nation and help execute the court verdict establishing the rule of law in the country.
“We’re still optimistic,” Momen said after explaining the legal complications regarding the matter.
On August 15, 1975, Bangabandhu, along with most of his family members, was assassinated.
Eighteen members of his family, including Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three sons – Captain Sheikh Kamal, Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal and 10-year-old Sheikh Russel; two daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal; brother Sheikh Naser, peasant leader Abdur Rab Serniabat, youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and his wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu, were, among others, killed on that fateful night.
Military Secretary Brigadier General Jamil was also killed. Several members of a family in the capital’s Mohammadpur area were also killed by artillery shells fired by the killers on the same day.
Five killers of Bangabandhu – Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and Mohiuddin Ahmed – were hanged in January 2010. Another killer Aziz Pasha had met natural death in Zimbabwe in 2001.
Of the six fugitive killers, Maj (retd) Noor Chowdhury is living in Canada while Maj (retd) Rashed Chowdhury in the USA. The other four fugitive killers are Col (dismissed) Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haque Dalim, Capt Abdul Majed and Risaldar Moslehuddin Khan.