PM Sheikh Hasina says they knew fate of parents 20 days later
Twenty days after the brutal killing of Bangabandhu, her two surviving daughters came to know from former Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi that none of their parents and other family members in Dhaka were alive.BSS
“We were in compete darkness about the gravity of massacre on August 15, 1975, except the information of a coup. As we arrived in New Delhi on August 24 from Germany and called on Indira Gandhi on September 4, she (Gandhi) told us that none of my parents were alive,” said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today.
She was addressing a memorial meeting marking the 41st anniversary of Bangabandhu’s martyrdom, organized by Bangladesh Awami League at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina, eldest daughter of Bangabandhu and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived the brutality as they left the country for Germany 15 days ago. “My last conversation with my parents over phone was on August 13 from the Netherlands when I shared with him the land reclamation process of that country,” she said.
Hearing the military takeover in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina said the then Bangladesh ambassador in Belgium denied extending any help to them. “We became a burden on him, though he was politically appointed by Bangabandhu,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said as they wanted to return to Germany, the ambassador even denied giving his transport to them. With the help of the first secretary of the embassy and Bangladesh ambassador in Germany Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, they came back to Germany.
The Prime Minister said Yugoslavia President Marshal Tito enquired about them at that time and expressed his desire to give them shelter. Germany also wanted to give them shelter while India Gandhi sent them a message to come to New Delhi.
Sheikh Hasina said on August 15, she was staying with her husband in the residence of Bangladesh ambassador in Belgium. A telephone call conveyed the message to her husband about the coup in Bangladesh.
“From television news, Sheikh Hasina said, they came to know the death of Bangabandhu. But no information was available about the fate of others and we had no clear picture of what actually happened in Dhaka,” she said.
Responding to the repeated call from Indira Gandhi, Sheikh Hasina said they arrived at New Delhi on August 24. They wanted to come home and tried to know from international agencies the extent of damage as she at least hoped that her mother was alive.
Sheikh Hasina said she and her sister could not return home from New Delhi as the new government which captured power after assassination of Bangabandhu had imposed restriction on their return. They took political asylum in India as Ziaur Rahman had made arrangement to prevent them from entering the country.
