BNP has no right to talk on elections: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that BNP had no right to speak about elections as they tainted the election process most during their tenures.

‘My question is how BNP raises questions about the election now. The history of the BNP-era election was so much tainted that they have no right to speak about the election. How do they speak?’ she said.

The prime minister made this remark while addressing a discussion organised marking her homecoming day by relief and social welfare sub-committee of Awami League at its central party office in the capital’s 23, Bangabandhu Avenue.

Joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban as chief guest, Sheikh Hasina said that everybody could remember the election of Falu (Mosaddek Ali Falu) in Dhaka-10, and Magura election for which Khaleda Zia was ousted from power through movement.

The country also experienced ‘yes — no’ vote in 1977, presidential election in 1978, general elections in 1979 and 1981 election and the February 15 election, she said, adding, ‘With such a tainted record, the question of election doers not befit their mouths.’ 

The prime minister added that the development of the election process such as making voter list with pictures, transparent ballot boxes and the use of EVM was the thinking and initiative of Awami League.

‘Voting rights of the people is one of the main rights and we’ve established it. So, they (BNP) can’t raise questions on it,’ she said.

Mentioning that Awami League is elected with people’s vote, she said that they had returned the voting rights and democratic rights to the people and it was the ‘real truth’.

‘Awami League is in power by dint of the people’s strength and that is why it is working for the welfare of the people,’ she added.

The prime minister said that what the country witnessed in the name of elections after the 1975 assassination of Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were snatching of ballot boxes, filling the box after sealing ballots, attacking the opposition and even the scenarios in the election in 2001 were like that.

Sheikh Hasina said that BNP had been speaking more but where was their leadership. ‘BNP has no leadership at all, all are convicted criminals, it is not possible to win in any election by convicted criminals,’ she added.

She noted that they (BNP) wanted to make the election questionable with the apprehension of defeat in polls.

‘If people do not respond to their (BNP) movement, who will be held responsible for that,’ she questioned.

Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, asked the ultra learned and knowledgeable-intellectual persons to come and join politics if they have any intention to run the country.

‘Please come in the field, come in the vote, none will snatch your votes, at least we can say we don’t go to snatch votes, rather we (Awami League) get the votes of the people and will get votes as we work for the people,’ she added.

The head of government said that the country’s development could not be visible if the Awami League did not remain in power for a long time.

She highlighted the development activities of the Awami League government in its 1996-2001 tenure which were stopped or destroyed by the BNP-Jamaat led government in 2001-2006 tenure.

Coming down heavily on a section of knowledgeable persons and economists for their unnecessary criticism based on false information regarding the development projects, she said that how they could talk foolish like this and ‘that is my question’.

Sheikh Hasina said this section of people was telling that the government had done a grave mistake by implementing the mega projects, like Rooppoor Nuclear Power Plant and rail-line on Padma Bridge.

‘They feel pain when we do anything for Bangladesh. Why are they still bootlickers of Pakistani military rulers? They don’t see anything good for Bangladesh, they don’t feel good when Bangladesh advances,’ she said.

The prime minister said that the mega projects were for the interest and welfare of the people of Bangladesh.

She mentioned that Bangladesh registered unprecedented development as Awami League was in power.

She said, ‘Will other parties who were in power can show a single example that they have done any good for the country or its people or brightened the image of the country. No, they can’t, they just made Bangladesh the nation of beggars.’

The Awami League president asked the leaders and activists of the party to strictly follow the policy and ideology of Awami League and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as it is the only party that can give something to the people of the country.

About scarcity of leadership in BNP, Sheikh Hasina said that Tarique Rahman was convicted in 10-truck arms haul case and 21 August grenade attack case.

She mentioned that in 2007 he (Tarique) gave a bond to the caretaker government that he would never do politics in his life and left the country with this bond.

Besides, Khaleda Zia was convicted of embezzling orphans’ money and landed in jail, the prime minister said, adding, ‘She (Khaleda) has shown humanity and that’s why she is now in home instead of jail although she tried to kill me repeatedly.’

The opportunity, she said, was offered to Khaleda Zia by an executive order.

Mentioning that after 1975 curfew was enforced continuously which was lifted in 1986, the prime minster said that curfew was in place from 11:00pm to 8:00am at that time. This was the scenario of Bangladesh and people had no right to move and speak, she added.

Even after formation of the government in 2009, she said that Awami League had to overcome various obstacles as BNP used petrol bombs and burned people alive.

‘We construct roads and they cut roads. We plant trees and they cut down trees. In this way BNP has repeatedly tried to take the country towards destruction and overthrow the government,’ Sheikh Hasina said, adding, ‘That’s why the people voted for Awami League and did not respond to the call of BNP.’

Publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, moderated the discussion from Ganabhaban end.

Later, on behalf of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, MP, handed over sewing machines and other assistance to orphans and destitute peoples.

May 17 was the 42nd homecoming day of Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina. On May 17 in 1981, she returned the country after a long exile.

Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed along with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975 and his two daughters — Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana — luckily escaped as they were abroad.

In a national council session of the Awami League on February 14-16, 1981, Sheikh Hasina was elected the party president.

New Age adds: Sheikh Hasina came down heavily on those who criticised the construction of the Padma Bridge.

Sheikh Hasina said that Nobel laureate professor Muhammad Yunus should be dipped in the river Padma and brought to the bridge constructed over the river at the cost of Bangladesh’s own fund.

She alleged that Yunus stopped the World Bank funding for the bridge for holding the post of the managing director of Grameen Bank.

Hasina said Yunus was offered to become ‘emeritus adviser’ of the bank as he was not eligible for holding the position because of his age.

Yunus also filed a case against the government to cling to the position, but the court could not give the verdict in his favour as he was 71 years old, Hasina added.

She said that Khaleda and her associates had also critcised the construction of the Padma Bridge alleging that the bridge was being constructed haphazardly. They should also be dropped in the river, she said. 

New Age adds: Sheikh Hasina came down heavily on those who criticised the construction of the Padma Bridge.

Sheikh Hasina said that Nobel laureate professor Muhammad Yunus should be dipped in the river Padma and brought to the bridge constructed over the river at the cost of Bangladesh’s own fund.

She alleged that Yunus stopped the World Bank funding for the bridge for holding the post of the managing director of Grameen Bank.

Hasina said Yunus was offered to become ‘emeritus adviser’ of the bank as he was not eligible for holding the position because of his age.

Yunus also filed a case against the government to cling to the position, but the court could not give the verdict in his favour as he was 71 years old, Hasina added.

She said that Khaleda and her associates had also critcised the construction of the Padma Bridge alleging that the bridge was being constructed haphazardly. They should also be dropped in the river, she said. 

News Courtesy:

https://www.newagebd.net/article/170905/bnp-has-no-right-to-talk-on-elections-pm