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Download PDF Sheikh Rehana, sister of Sheikh Hasina, yesterday said the charge brought against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Selim and herself is ‘completely false, fabricated and ill-motivated’ and it is aimed at annihilating the surviving family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
It is completely a horrendous act by the present government and sign of their sick mentality as they have fixed the hearing of the case on August 15 — the day father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with most of his family members, said Rehana.
Rehana, the youngest daughter of Bangabandhu, urged the people of the country to protest and resist the injustice. “Normally the day [August 15] brings sadness to members of the family. I strongly protest it,” she added.
“A conspiracy has been plotted to destroy the entire family just like on August 15. Nothing can be worse than this. It’s an ill-motivated case. My name has been included in the charge only to weaken Sheikh Hasina and to demean Bangabandhu and his family before the countrymen,” Rehana, who is currently in Florida, USA, told The Daily Star last night over phone.
Coming down heavily on the interim government for implicating her with the extortion case, she said although she had not been living permanently in the country for the last ten years, her name has been incriminated in the case deliberately. “This false case will not fly and we hope that we will get justice,” she added.
Rehana alleged that the caretaker government is not going by the law and running its affairs following the saying — ‘might is right’. She was firm to say that the false case would be battled out in the court of law and the justice would be on their side.
“History says, untruth never wins. Truth will prevail anyhow some day,” she boldly said asking, “Why would Bangabandhu’s daughters resort to extortion anyway if they need money?”
Our father did not teach us to collect money from others by any means, Rehana said adding that even the present chief adviser and the law adviser, who used to go to their residence, know the family very well. They know that the Bangabandhu family did not commit any crime let alone extorting money.
“It is crystal clear that, that the government has lodged the extortion case against us abusing power,” said the AL chief’s sister.
With the mercy of Allah and the support of the people of Bangladesh, it won’t be possible to annihilate us through filing even hundreds of such false cases, Rehana added.
Asked whether she would come to Bangladesh to face the charge, Rehana said, “Off course, I will go to my country. My lawyers have been looking into the charge. If they need me to, I will go to the country,” she added.
Defending her sister Hasina, Rehana said the AL chief did not commit any crime and the government itself knows also that she did not commit any crime. People of the country are with her, she said seeking support from the countrymen and the media.
Asked whether she would join politics, she said she has no interest to join politics as a member of a political family. But I will contribute for the welfare of the nation and its people, she added.
Rehana said the prosecution of the charges should be held in an open court in a transparent manner and if due process of law is followed, Hasina will win. “If my sister wins, it would be our victory, people’s victory,” said Rehana.
Conspiracy is being hatched against Hasina because she speaks for the country, democracy and for a free and fair election, she said.
Since a government survey predicted that the Awami League (AL) might win the next election, “…. they filed the false extortion case against Sheikh Hasina only to keep her out of elections,” claimed Rehana.
She prayed for Hasina’s well-being so that she can serve the countrymen in future whether her party is in power or not.
ZILLUR’S REACTION
AL acting president Zillur Rahman confidently said that Hasina did not extort money and the charge against her is completely false and fabricated.
The charge sheet was prepared with ill intention and Hasina might not get justice, he feared.
Expressing surprise over inclusion of Rehana’s name, Zillur asked how her name could be included in the charge sheet when she was not even accused in the case. She was not Even present in the country at the time of the alleged extortion, said the AL leader.
July 25th, 2007 at 3:13 am
With out implicating Lady Hasina & her family members,We all are interested to know how they
financed the purchase of their Houses in England & USA. How they derive income for confortable living in UK & USA.
What her son does in USA. Did they buy their properties with Cash Money? If so where did they get the money from?In these countries We all borrow money paying a small deposit & we keep on repaying the Loan for over twenty five years.
If they are clean , we like to know the truth.
Thank you