PM questions whether quota protesters know what happened in 1971

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has raised a question whether the quota protesters, who introduced themselves as ‘Razakar’, knew about the 1971 genocide, brutal torture on mothers and sisters and the role of the Razakars.

Expressing a surprise at their slogans, she said, “They did not see the dead bodies lying on the roads. So, they are not ashamed to call themselves Razakars.”

She made the remarks while speaking at the signing ceremony of the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) for the fiscal year 2024-25 at the Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday (July 15).

The Prime Minister said, “Our only goal is the spirit of liberation war. Millions of martyrs shed blood. Millions of mothers and sisters were violated. Their contribution should not be forgotten. The way Pakistani occupation forces and Razakar Bahini carried out killing mission in this country, I feel very sad when the students of Rokeya Hall also say they are Razakar.”

“Do they know what happened on March 25, 1971? The Pakistani occupation forces have killed 300 girls, raped 40 girls. They were taken to a Pakistani camp. Many girls committed suicide by using their sarees or scarf as they were not allowed to wear them. They were brutally tortured day after day,” she mentioned.

The Prime Minister said, “They did not see the dead bodies lying on the streets. So, they are not ashamed to call themselves ‘Razakar’. They plundered and oppressed the people with the forces they created. We have taken action against them. I have tried and hanged many people. Those oppressed by them got justice. It is unfortunate that when I hear the girls also chant slogans for quota cancellation! Then it seems which country we belong to! And they believe in what spirit? What education gave them? What did they learn? That is our question.”