পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড).pdf/৬৪৪

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড
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serving the cause of common man, for establishment of the right of the masses. They did so as they tried to make sacrifice for the people.

Caution to officials

 Sounding a note of caution to the high officials of the Government the Awami League Chief said that the officials should change the mentality they had grown in the last decade during Ayub Regime. He said that the high officials could not adjust with the common people; they remain as big bosses. “If you do not change your attitude towards the common man, we would only point out the people your residence, and tell them he is not a good man, throw him out. We are not going to take steps as taken by President Yahya against 303 high officials,” he said.

Move to combat Awami League

 Referring to the role of different quarters at the time of elections, he said huge amount of money came to this province for the purpose of combating the Awami League. It was said that Islam was in danger. Was anybody stopped from offering his prayers and keeping fast after the elections, he asked. He said that those who involved the name of Islam unnecessarily in politics, deserved punishment prescribed in Islam whipping.

 Further he said that attempts were made in different ways to reduce the number of Awami League MNAs and MPAs in the elections. Once the move was made with the help of POP after the merger of four organizations and then in the name of Islamic Front. In the elections, however, all the weeds were cleared, he observed.

 Speaking about his organisation, he called upon his party workers to make every village and mahalla a fort of the Awami League. He alleged that Awami League workers were stabbed in the darkness of night by terrorists and their agents. He called upon his workers to be prepared to fight such terrorists. He advised them to prepare bamboo sticks and sticks out of “sundari” to fight them. Sheikh Mujib said that revolution could not be made through dacoity.

 To his workers, he said, “You keep your sticks ready but do not use those until I give order”. IIc reiterated, “I am a Muslim and not a Christian. If I am hit I will retaliate.” He asked his workers not to hit first.

 The Sheikh told the cheering crowd to bury alive any member of his party including himself if any of them betrayed this oath.

 Addressing the women audience in the meeting, he said that the women-folk would no more be treated as second class citizens. If required, he said, a special law would be framed to give equal rights to women with the men-folk.

 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman demanded the release of all political prisoners and withdrawal of cases pending against political workers and students. “How long will you keep them in the jail? If you fail to release them immediately we shall do it very soon after going to power”. Sheikh Mujib added.