The Awami League had a deep relationship with me at that time: Planning Minister

Mentioning that he had relations with the Awami League leaders ignoring the bloody eyes of the then government while he was a government official, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the Awami League had a very bad time at that time. I used to get scared when I heard the name of Awami League. The Awami League had a deep relationship with me then. Because Ershad and Zia-all these dictators could not tolerate the name of the Awami League.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting and cultural program organized by Ashtagram Itna Mithamin Upazila Development and Welfare Association on the occasion of the President's 69th birthday at the 2nd floor Liberation War Memorial Auditorium of IDEB Bhaban in the capital's Kakrail on Saturday night.

Referring to the tenure of the Zia and Ershad governments, he said that if any government official had a connection with the Awami League, it would be a ploy to end his life.

Reminiscing about his Kishoreganj, the planning minister said, I went to Kishoreganj in 1978 as SDO. I was there for 4-5 months. At that time, I was introduced to Mr. Hamid (current President and then Awami League leader). There was a dissatisfaction in my mind - I came and went but saw nothing. Later when Kishoreganj was made a district I was the first DC there. My relationship with Mr. Hamid then became deeper.

I became very acquainted with Mr. Matiur Rahman, Principal of Mymensingh. He was very well known as the leader of the Awami League. In that situation, Principal Matiur Rahman used to love me. I kept in touch with him secretly. Matiur Rahman then told Hamid of Awami League- Mannan Saheb is going to become DC, we have a good relationship with this Mannan Saheb. After saying this, Mr. Hamid used to come to my house. How many discussions I have had with him since then.

The planning minister said, "We built the first bridge connecting Bhairab." I have visited Chamtaghat, the junction of Itna and Mithamin with Karimganj many times. I built the first building there. I built a road there and planted thorny trees. I still remember these works.