Referring to the brutal killing of her youngest brother Sheikh Russel, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said they didn’t want recurrence of such a heinous crime as her government is working untiringly to let the children live a beautiful life, reports BSS.
“... Sheikh Russel was brutally killed. We want such incidents never happen anymore,” she said while virtually addressing a function marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Russel, from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital.
The prime minister said her government has been working untiringly towards achieving a target of giving the children a beautiful life to live as they would become guardians of the country after being well-educated.
“We want each of our children will be patriots, good human beings and worthy citizens of the country after getting modern education and thus serve the people. And for achieving that particular target, my government has been working tirelessly,” she added.
Mentioning that her youngest brother Sheikh Russel was born on October 18 in 1964, Sheikh Hasina said, “Today is the birthday of Sheikh Russel. But he had to go forever at the strike of bullets of the assassins on August 15 in 1975 and thus a flower was falling off at its buds.”
The premier prayed for salvation of the departed souls of Sheikh Russel and other martyrs, including the architect of the country Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu Kishore Parishad organised the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) here while the Ganabhaban, Sheikh Russel Roller Scatting Complex and University Laboratory School and College sites also got connected to the function virtually.
The PM earlier inaugurated the screening of ‘Bubur Desh’ (animated documentary on Sheikh Russel), unveiled the cover of a book titled ‘Sheikh Russel Amader Abeg, Amader Valobasha’ (book on the life of Sheikh Russel), and also unveiled the mural of Sheikh Russel and inaugurated ‘Shahid Sheikh Russel’ building at University Laboratory School and College.
She also witnessed a video on the activities of Sheikh Russel, unveiled the cover of a book titled ‘Smritir Patay Sheikh Russel’, and distributed prizes among the students getting GPA-5 in the SSC, stipends and laptops among the poor and meritorious students.
On behalf of the premier, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak distributed the awards and stipends among the students from the BCIC site while PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus moderated the function from the Ganabhaban.
The premier said, recalling the time when Russel was born, that they all, including her sister Sheikh Rehana, her brothers Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal, were waiting eagerly to hear the cry of the minor child and to take him on their laps, adding, “That was a very joyous moment for us. The little child was the apple of our eyes.”
She added that Russel always stayed beside Bangabandhu after he got released from the prison in February of 1969 in fear of losing his father as Bangabandhu was arrested in May of 1966 following the announcement of the six-point demand and Russel was born on October 18 in 1966.
“Baba (Bangabandhu) was sent to jail again at a time when Russel was not able to understand that,” she said, adding that Russel truly first met Bangabandhu in the prison.
The premier, in an emotion choked voice, said that Sheikh Russel used to cry at times when their father was in jail.
“Russel did not sleep at night and used to cry on those days when they visited Bangabandhu in jail. —he (Russel) could not say anything as he was too little as a child, but we had realised his pain and in this way he grew up,” she also said.
She continued that Russel got his father for only three and a half years and everything was finished on August 15 in 1975 after the country achieved independence in 1971.
Noting that Sheikh Russel had a dream to be an army officer, she said, “He (Russel) put all children together and did parade whenever we went to our village home for roaming.”
The premier urged all the children to be attentive in their education to be worthy citizens of the country so that they could work to reach fruits to every doorstep of the independence that has been achieved by shedding huge bloods.
“I know the schools are closed due to the coronavirus. It is a matter of pain for any children. Despite the fact, I would say to study attentively and do whatever you know whether it is arts or sports or anything else as you can attend the classes when schools will be opened,” she said.
The PM urged the guardians to look into the matters to encourage their children to study and take part in sports and other extracurricular activities.
She called upon all to follow the health guidelines particularly wearing masks to remain protected from the Covid-19.
“I asked all to put mask on the faces in gatherings. All have to abide by the health guidelines,” she added.
Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu Kishore Parishad chairman Raquibur Rahman and a little boy Nil Kabyo also spoke at the function.