Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated her firm determination to hold the next elections as per the constitution, saying that her government wants to create a permanent political stability in the country. “We have reestablished the parliamentary democracy by amending the constitution and we want to hold the next elections by upholding the constitution. We also want power transfer through the constitutional process,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League President, said this while delivering her introductory speech at a view-exchange meeting with the leaders of Jatiya Party (Manju) held at her official residence Ganobhaban here tonight.
The ruling Awami League held the meeting with the JP (Manju) as part of its initiative for holding talks with different political parties about the poll-time government and the next general elections. JP Chairman Anwar Hossain Monju and General Secretary Sheikh Shahidul Islam led the 12-member delegation at the meeting.
AL Presidium Member and Deputy Leader of the House
Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, senior AL leaders Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury, Dr Gowher Rizvi, Dr Alauddin Ahmed, Nooh-ul-Alam Lenin, Syed Ashraful Islam and Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif were, among others, present at the meeting.
The Prime Minister said her government amended the constitution to stop the politics of killing, coup and conspiracy forever and none can grab power unconstitutionally.
“During the amendment of constitution, we considered that none can become a president all on a sudden by saying ‘Assalamualikum’ on television. We also gave attention during the amendment that there not remains any loophole that outside of the elected representatives, any person cannot run the country,” she said.
Noting that the country hasn’t witnessed peaceful power transfer after 1975 except in 2001, the Awami League chief said her party wants that no unconstitutional force could grab power in future in the country.
Criticizing again the opposition leader for not withdrawing the 60-hour hartal following her phone call, the Prime Minister said that Khaleda Zia could do nothing during this hartal except claiming lives of 20 people, bombing and causing sufferings to the common people.
“During the telephonic conservation, I got hot shouts (Jhari) from her …She (Khaleda) did not keep my request of calling off hartal,” she said.
Referring to the opposition leader’s claim of terming the government illegal after October 25, 2013, Sheikh Hasina said that as per the constitution, the head of the government would stay in his or her place until the next successor comes.
She also reiterated her stance of forming an all-party poll-time government comprising representatives of the parties having representation in current parliament.
The Prime Minister said her government amended the constitution to stop the politics of killing, coup and conspiracy forever and none can grab power unconstitutionally.
“During the amendment of constitution, we considered that none can become a president all on a sudden by saying ‘Assalamualikum’ on television. We also gave attention during the amendment that there not remains any loophole that outside of the elected representatives, any person cannot run the country,” she said.
Courtesy of BSS via The Independent
