Bangabandhu was the target of 7 separate plots: Gowher Rizvi

The Bangladesh High Commission in London hosted a commemorative event to mark the 46th anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's martyrdom and the National Mourning Day on Sunday at a venue in East London.

The Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, the chief guest of the event, said there were at least seven plots and a long conspiracy behind the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family on August 15, 1975.

He said, "It is well known that the assassins were inconsequential mid-level soldiers. But I have a lot of documents to show that there were as many as seven different conspiracies going on. Some went on independently, some were linked, some had connections. The real tragedy is that the conspiracy or desire to get rid of the greatest Bangalee of all time did not begin after independence or after he came to power; it began even before independence during the War of Liberation."

Internationally renowned historian and researcher Dr Rizvi added, "Bangabandhu laid the foundations for multi-party democracy, secularism, social justice, and Bangalee nationalism in independent Bangladesh. By killing him, the conspirators aimed to take back Bangladesh to its pre-independence state. There is sufficient evidence of this. This will be released in due course."

Prime Minister's Special Advisor for Private Industry and Investment Salman F Rahman said, "Bangabandhu started the freedom struggle of Bangladesh from the language movement and he never compromised on this issue. Today, those who are trying to mislead the people by spreading propaganda in various ways once opposed the independence of Bangladesh.

"However, Prime Minister [Sheikh Hasina] has succeeded in overcoming all conspiracies and has moved forward to build Bangladesh as Sonar Bangla as envisioned by Bangabandhu."

He emphasised on the need to take effective steps to make British-Bangladeshi youths aware of Bangabandhu's life and ideals.

The event was chaired by the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, Saida Muna Tasneem.