Sheikh Hasina on Monday alleged that if voted to power, Khaleda Zia would lead the country towards darkness with her “new type of government”.
Running the country with a “new-type of government” means disrupting the country’s socio-economic progress, encouraging corruption by a “new method”, the Prime Minister, also the Awami League president, said in her introductory speech at a meeting with the party’s grassroots level leaders at her official residence Ganobhaban.
“Actually, the BNP chief does not want development of the country and that is why she has said that she will run the country by a ‘new method’,” Hasina said.
“While the country is marching towards progress, the Opposition chief wants to drag it towards darkness, halting all development activities of the present government. But people of the country will not allow her to do this,” she added.
Awami League leaders from different municipalities and upazilas of Thakurgaon, Cox’s Bazar, Sherpur, Gaibandha, Feni, Sirajganj and Munishiganj districts attended the meeting. Among others, AL presidium members Mohammad Nasim, Nooh-Ul-Alam Lenin and Satish Chandra Roy and joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif were present.
Hasina urged party leaders and activists to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level and project the government’s success stories among the people, so that they are not misled by the BNP-Jamaat’s falsehood. She also asked party leaders and workers to remain united during the next general election as it is very important. “You will have to work hard ahead of the general election to make the AL victorious, so that we get another chance to serve the nation and continue the development process,” she said.
While the people are living in peace, the Opposition chief is passing her days with troublesome situation.
Referring to the BNP chairperson’s remarks that she wants a Hasina-free Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said: “I know why Khaleda doesn’t want me. If I am alive, she (Khaleda) will not be able to save war criminals.”
She alleged that the Opposition chief, her son Tarique Rahman and her erstwhile cabinet members had plotted to kill her by hurling grenades at a rally in the city’s Bangabandhu area on August 21, 2004. The BNP-Jamaat government had conspired to kill her on several occasions, but they did not succeed. If the Almighty Allah wants to save some one, no one can kill him/her.
About the BNP’s opposition to the Rampal power plant, the Prime Minister said: “Khaleda is opposing everything as she does not want development and advancement of the country.”
Hasina said her government has taken the initiative to set up six more coal-based power plants, having a total capacity of 6,600 megawatts. The power plants will be constructed following environmental safeguards, she said.
Claiming that the next general election would be free and fair, Hasina said over 5,600 elections, including by-polls, local government and municipal elections have been held in a free, fair and credible manner. No one has raised questions about them. “We did not interfere in the election process. So, why shouldn’t the next general election be free and fair,” she asked.
She iterated that the general election would be held in line with constitutional provisions, adding that no unconstitutional elements would be allowed to assume power.
She urged people to re-elect the Awami League for continuation of development activities, saying that terrorism, militancy and corruption would once again raise their ugly heads if the BNP was voted to power.
About holding a dialogue with the BNP, the Prime Minister said: “We urged the BNP to sit down for a dialogue to resolve the political stalemate, but it issued a 48-hour ultimatum. Actually, it does not want talks.”
The Premier also alleged that the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir and Hefazat men burnt hundreds of copies of the Holy Quran on the night of May 5, apart from setting fire to the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, on the directives of the BNP chief.
Those who indulge in politics in the name of Islam, how can they serve the religion by burning copies of the Holy book and setting fire to mosques,” she wondered.
The Prime Minister claimed that only the AL government serves Islam as it has made religious education compulsory. Bangabandhu had established the Islamic Foundation and Madrasa Board, banned gambling, consumption of liquor and other un-Islamic activities.
-With The Independent input
