Motiur Rahman Rentu: I want the death penalty


Sheikh Hasina’s first meeting with student leaders and freedom fighters took place 3-4 days after her return to Bangladesh. In this meeting, she suggested that the campaign against President Ziaur Rahman should be launched immediately. When asked why, she replied by saying “this Zia” or “that Zia”, implying that the current president was not the same person who had declared independence.

The student leaders were surprised by her response and whispered to each other in amazement. However, this incident is presented as an example of Sheikh Hasina’s supposed lack of concern for the truth and her willingness to manipulate public opinion.

In a separate incident, after the mayoral election in Dhaka, where her nominated candidate Hanif won, but the BNP candidate Abdul Aziz was killed along with 6 others, Sheikh Hasina was said to have reacted with joy. She allegedly sang and danced to the song “Zindagi Zindagi” (Life is Life) after hearing the news of the killings.

The next morning, before visiting the bodies of the 7 people who were killed in Lalbagh, Sheikh Hasina asked someone to put glycerin on her handkerchief so that she could cry when seeing the corpses. However, one person suggested that she just hold the handkerchief over her eyes and it would look like she was crying.

Finally, after visiting the hospital morgue and seeing the bodies of the 7 people who were killed, Sheikh Hasina went to her house and allegedly said “Bring more food and drink; I’ve just seen dead bodies. I will eat more today.” She then started singing the song “Zindagi Zindagi” again and began dancing.

It is worth noting that these incidents are presented as examples of Sheikh Hasina’s supposed lack of empathy and her willingness to manipulate public opinion. However, it is also possible to interpret these events in a different way, depending on one’s perspective.

The text appears to be a narrative about the events surrounding the killing of two students, Zafar and Zainal, during protests at Dhaka University in 1983. The story is told through a series of meetings and conversations between various characters, including Sheikh Hasina, Hafizur Rahman Lashkar, student leaders, and police officials.

The narrative suggests that the police and military were involved in the killing of the students, and that Sheikh Hasina was aware of the plans to kill them. The story also implies that Sheikh Hasina’s leadership during this time was ineffective, and that she ultimately failed to protect her students.

The text goes on to describe the aftermath of the killings, including the police and military crackdown on the university campus, and the eventual arrest and imprisonment of faculty and students. The narrative concludes by stating that the self-sacrifice of Zafar and Zainal went in vain, as General Ershad’s military rule continued unchecked.

It is worth noting that the text appears to be a critique of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership and the Awami League party, suggesting that they failed to protect their students and allow military dictatorship to flourish. The narrative also implies that the student society was led astray by a lack of political ethics.

Overall, the text provides a detailed and dramatic account of the events surrounding the killing of Zafar and Zainal, and serves as a critique of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership during this time.