Again accusing the opposition BNP-Jamaat-Hefajat for conducting sniper attacks on common people as well as burning people to death in vehicles during the countrywide shutdowns, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called upon the countrymen to unite against such anarchy and violence by the opposition. “They (BNP-Jamaat-Hefajat) want to take political benefit in the name of Islam. They unleash sniper attacks on people, burn sleeping people to death in buses being aggrieved as people don’t respond to their call for movement,” she added.
The Prime Minister was addressing a mammoth public rally at the Sarwar Jahan Pilot High School ground organized by Bamna upazila Awami League.
Newly inducted Ministers Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, local MP Shawkat Hasanur Rahman Rimon and chairman of parliamentary standing committee on Shipping Ministry Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton also spoke at the rally chaired by Bamna upazila AL president Adv Md Harun ur Rashid.
Hasina also called upon the countrymen to get united against the “anarchy and violence” unleashed by the opposition, which are killing people and causing untold sufferings to the citizens.
Listing various development activities of the present government, she sought vote for ‘Boat’, the election symbol of Awami League, in the next general election and thus giver her party another opportunity to serve the nation.
Wondering how could a Muslim pour petrol and burn another Muslim, the Awami League President said: “What type of politics is this and what type of movement is this?”
In a scathing attack on the opposition leader, she said Khaleda Zia could never want welfare of the country as she was born at a tea garden in Shiliguri in India. “So, how could she ensure welfare for the country’s people?”
About Qaumi madrasah, the Prime Minister said that the present government has already formed a commission in this regard while an authority will be formed following the recommendations of this commission.
She said this authority will fix curriculum for the Qaumi madrasah as well as issue certificates, but it will not be made mandatory. With such certificates, the Qaumi madrasah students will be able to work both at home and abroad.
“But, there are some people who are in favour of such initiative and also some others who are against. I hope, we all will make a decision in this regard,”
Mentioning that her party believes that the country’s people will be able pursue their respective religion freely and without fear, Hasina said: “We want that everyone living in the country will be able to perform their respective religion as this is the lesson of holy Quran.”
Recalling the contributions of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman towards the spread of Islam, Hasina said that Bangabandhu had banned liquor and gambling and also set up Islamic Foundation alongside developing the Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
Taking a swipe at Jamaat and Hefajat for setting fire to mosques and copies of holy Quran doing politics in the name of Islam, she said:
“How could a Muslim set fire to copies of holy Quran and mosques?
They’ve have set fire to mosques and copies of holy Quran to fulfill their political vengeance.”
The Awami League President said that the people of the country’s southern region were neglected in the past. “But, whenever there is Awami League, the fate of people of this area is changed as AL is an organization which belongs to the people and work for them.”
Mentioning that her party believes in balanced development, she listed various development activities undertaken by the present government in different fields.
-With UNB/The Independent input
