Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said historic Six-Point Demand was solely the brainchild of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as none was involved in formulating this crucial political programme that led the country towards independence.

“Many people want to say many things regarding the Six-Point Demand…some say it was done by that person’s suggestions, some says it was formulated with advice from those persons. But I know for sure, it was his (Bangabandhu’s) own thinking,” she said.

The Prime Minister said this while distributing awards among the winners of quiz competition on Wednesday. From her official residence Ganobhaban, she was connected with the virtual programme organised marking the historic Six-Point Demand (June 7).

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee organised the programme at International Mother Language Institute in the capital.

Recalling the background of this historical demands of the country, she said Bangabandhu was arrested in 1958 and released in December 17, 1969. At that time, the politics was banned. Bangabandhu could not go outside Dhaka, and he joined Alfa Insurance Company.

She mentioned that Tajuddin Ahmed was also under arrest. After release, he went to Fatulla at Narayanganj to join his job. Bangabandhu himself went to Narayanganj and bring Tajuddin Ahmed back to Dhaka and gave a job in Alfa Insurance Company.

Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu and the then Dhaka University student, said Father of the Nation appointed Mohammad Hanif as his PA in the Alfa Insurance Company.

“Bangabandhu used to think, write down and give the write-ups to Hanif for typing out. Here only Hanif knew about this (Six-Point Demand) as he typed out that …no one else knew,” she said.

The Premier categorically said the Six-Point Demand came out from the thoughts of Bangabandhu after the 1965 India-Pakistan war that lasted for three weeks and the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was totally left defenceless.

After arrest of Bangabandhu and other front-ranking AL leaders due to the announcement of the Six- Point Demand, Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib (mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina) had played a great role in publicising and advancing the movement centring these demands, she said.

“It cannot be imagined the contributions of my mother to Bangladesh, she always knew what my father wanted, she was very aware of those,” Hasina said.

She said the August-15, 1975 massacre stopped the advancement of Bangladesh.

Talking about August-15 brutal killing of Bangabandhu and his family members, she said defeated force emerged in the country through the messacre and tried to diminish the country’s victory.

“I think there’s no scope for that now…history has its own course… no one can erase..that‘s established today,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government wanted to advance the country following the path shown by the Father of the Nation.

“If we want to make Bangladesh as ‘Golden Bengal’ free from poverty and hunger, and a developed and prosperous one, we must take lessons from history and follow the footsteps of the Father of the Nation. And we’ve to uphold our victory,” she said.

State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak also spoke on the occasion.

Chief of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee National Prof Rafiqul Islam gave vote of thanks while Chief Coordinator Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.

A documentary on Bangabandhu and historic Six-Point Demand was also screened at the programme.

Some 100 competitors received certificates signed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and prize money for securing various positions in the quiz on different categories.

Dhaka University Public Administration department student Mohammad Imtiaz Pasha and Khulna Railway Girls’ School teacher Khuku Rani expressed their feelings as winners.