Sheikh Hasina Was the World’s Best Actress and Ordered Enforced Disappearances: Speaker

Bhola District and Lalmohan Upazila Correspondent

Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament and Bhola-3 constituency lawmaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has said Sheikh Hasina was “the world’s best actress” and the person who ordered enforced disappearances and killings. He said Sheikh Hasina would invite the relatives of disappeared people to Ganabhaban and comfort their wives and children by patting them on the head. At the same time, he said, she concealed within herself a ruthless mindset linked to the enforced disappearances.

Former PM Sheikh Hasina would assure the relatives of disappeared people that their loved ones would be returned. But they were never returned because, according to him, she herself knew where the disappeared people were. “Through such behaviour and acting, she performed as the world’s best actress. The people could not understand it at the time. Now everything has become clear to the people,” he said.

He further said, “Based on the evidence and testimonies of disappeared persons before the International Tribunal, it has now been proved to the people that Sheikh Hasina was the world’s best actress and herself the person who ordered the enforced disappearances.”

He also alleged that a barrister was kept handcuffed and confined in an “Aynaghar” for eight years. “How cruel and heinous a crime was committed against him,” he said. After Sheikh Hasina fled the country, the barrister was released and has now become a Member of Parliament, he added.

Major Hafiz made these remarks as the chief guest at an exchange meeting organised by the Lalmohan Upazila Citizens’ Society at the upazila auditorium on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Lalmohan Upazila BNP President Zafar Iqbal and moderated by General Secretary Shafiqul Islam Babul.

Speaking about corruption and looting during the previous Awami League government, Major Hafiz said, “A pillow was priced at Tk60,000 in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. A curtain was priced at Tk42,000. A former state minister for land had 360 houses in London.” He alleged that money was embezzled from development projects undertaken during the previous government without properly carrying out the work.

Regarding local politics in Lalmohan, he said, “During the previous government, there was an unelected MP in this constituency who was brought from Dhaka on rent. He was a top terrorist and a killer. Even people from his own party were not safe from him.”

He alleged that during the 2010 by-election, terrorists were brought from Dhaka and attacked his supporters’ homes in broad daylight, injuring them with machetes and vandalising their houses. He also said his house was surrounded by terrorists.

He further said his then-chief election coordinator, former Bhola-4 MP Nazim Uddin Alam, was beaten and seriously injured. “I went to the hospital to see him, but I could not enter the hospital,” he said. He told the gathering, “You voted for me, and the government honoured me by making me the Speaker. This honour does not belong to me alone; it also belongs to you.”

Speaking about development, he said all roads in Lalmohan would be made suitable for travel within the next six months. “All efforts will be made to develop the area. It is not possible to ensure anyone’s personal development,” he said. Those present at the meeting included Lalmohan Municipality BNP President Sadek Jantu, General Secretary Kamruzzaman Babul Patowari, Shafiullah Hawladar, Principal Farid Uddin, Press Club President Shahin Patowari, Jubo Dal President Shahinul Islam Kabir Hawladar, Secretary Hachan Kazi, Swechchhasebak Dal Convener Lecturer Rezaur Rahman Shahin, Press Club General Secretary Shahid Hawladar, and leaders of all affiliated organisations of Lalmohan Upazila BNP.