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Download PDF Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina reached Boston in the United States early yesterday, some 40 hours after her release on executive orders for treatment abroad.
She was received by her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and his family. Several hundred party faithful from different states and Canada gathered outside the Logan International Airport to greet her.
Talking to reporters at the airport, she said the people of Bangladesh want the long-stalled parliamentary polls to be held without delay. They expect handover of power to a democratic government after a free and fair election, reports American News Agency (ANA), a US-based Bangla news service.
Hasina, also former prime minister, was freed for eight weeks Wednesday afternoon after about 11 months in detention on corruption charges. She left Dhaka the next morning and had a four-hour stopover at Heathrow airport in London before flying for Boston, Massachusetts.
On arrival there, she hugged her son heartily. Tears ran down her cheeks as she threw arms around her daughter-in-law Christina Joy and cuddled granddaughter Sufia Rehana Joy, said eyewitnesses.
Many of those present were swept up in emotion as well. Slogans like “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu” echoed through the lounge as a cheerful Hasina waved to the crowd who had long been waiting to catch a glimpse of her.
AL leaders Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, Akhtaruzzaman Babu, Faqrul Islam Munshi, Abdus Sobhan Golap, President of US chapter of AL Khalid Hasan, General Secretary Sazzadur Rahman Sazzad, among others, were at the airport, according to News World, a New York-based news agency.
Before leaving the airport for her son’s apartment, Hasina offered prayers and spoke to waiting journalists. She expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah, the people and partymen for her release.
Hasina said they have long been struggling for democracy. “Our objective is to establish a prosperous and democratic Bangladesh and for this I seek help from all of you,” she was quoted as saying by News World.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Humayun Kabir was at the airport to welcome her.
According to News World, his presence surprised many of those who were there. A first secretary level official of the embassy was sent to receive Hasina during the BNP-Jamaat coalition rule.
Asked, Humayun Kabir said following the government’s orders is his duty and which is why he had come to receive the AL president.
Queried if he would call on her during her stay in Boston, he said there is no such plan.
Talking to reporters shortly before her mother’s arrival, Joy expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah and the people of Bangladesh. He said, “We’ve been waiting so long for this day. I can’t tell you how happy I’m at the prospect of meeting my mother.”
About Hasina’s itinerary, he said she would first take rest in his Boston residence for some time and then fly to Florida for treatment. Later, she would visit her daughter Saima Wazed Putul in Canada.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Dear S. HASINA, Before demanding democratic fair election,every party must give nominations to the honest,sincere,educated,courageous politicians for election and you should demand total removal of corrupted UP chairmans and theier terrorist groups and total uproot of corrupted government
servants,cadres (terrorists of all parties including AL,BNP). I hope you will agree with me for the sake of this ill-fated nation.The so called democracy of the last 15 years I have seen.Most of those MPs were simply self centered corrupted criminals. We hate them,also I hate the persons who gave them nominations.Remember Bangladesh is not the property of BNP and Awamileague.We are waiting for a democratic government formed by the honest skilled persons. persons