Skipping parliament a wrong political decision: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the elected lawmakers of Bangladesh Nationalist Party-dominated Jatiya Oikya Front to refrain from taking a ‘wrong political decision’ of not joining the Parliament.
Without mentioning the names of the lawmakers-elect of JOF, Hasina said if they join the Parliament they would get the opportunity to deliver their opinions. 
‘I urge the lawmakers- elect to join the parliament and deliver their opinions,’ Hasina said while responding to a supplementary question of Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam from Mymensingh-8 constituency.
‘If they have an opinion, they will get the opportunity to place it before the House. And this opportunity will not remain confined to the House only, rather people can also hear it through media,’ she said, expressing her wonder for not taking the opportunity.
After suffering a defeat in the December 30 national elections, marred by fraud and flaws, the JOF decided not to take oath.
A total of eight lawmakers have been elected from JOF, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, while Awami League-led grand alliance secured 288 parliamentary seats.
Bringing allegations of vote rigging and irregularities the JOF demanded the Election Commission to hold fresh polls.
Hasina, also the president of the ruling party, termed the JOF’s decision of not joining the session wrong after securing poor seats.
‘They are not joining the session after getting poor seats. I think it is their wrong political decision of not joining the Parliament,’ she told the House with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
The prime minister earlier said that they would not consider the opposition by number, and would rather take their any justified proposal into cognizance.
The prime minister said her government wanted to build the country with the support of all.
‘That’s why I sat with all political parties and urged all for participating in the polls,’ she said.
Hasina, also the Leader of the House, said that people were getting the fruit of the country’s development, carried out in the last 10 years.
‘As people get the fruit of development, they cast votes in favour of the boat symbol,’ she said.
‘People are the owners of their votes and they have franchised their rights whom they like,’ she added.
Over the JP lawmaker’s inquiry about her intention of going to the village after the retirement from politics, the prime minister said her government is going to provide all sort of civic facilities in villages.
‘I grew up in the village and came to Dhaka at a stage but did not sever the love for the village. My mind still stays in my village. It is my desire, whenever I go to retirement, I will live in my village,’ she said.
Responding to another question of Rustam Ali Farazi, the prime minister said her government had been working relentlessly to make Bangladesh a dignified country in the globe.
‘The country imbued with the spirit of independence is now marching towards peace, development, and prosperity. Due to wholehearted efforts of all, the international community considers Bangladesh with due honour,’ she said.
Responding to another question, the prime minister said some 97 states, governments and organisations greeted her after forming the government for the fourth term.
Replying to another question of treasury bench lawmaker Mamunur Rashid Kiron, the prime minister said anti-liberation elements tried to tarnish the country’s image through using the religious sentiments.
‘But such attempts have been failed due to our efforts. We remain alert so that this vested quarter cannot create any ground to mar the prevailing communal harmony,’ she said.
‘Legal action will be taken against those, who will run propaganda at home and abroad, to tarnish the image of the country,’ she added. 
 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net