Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday that “fears of absolute debacle” had made the BNP reluctant to participate in the general election scheduled for January 5. “If you (Khaleda Zia) have a huge popularity as you claim, then why are you afraid of contesting the poll,” the PM said, iterating her call to the Opposition leader to shun the politics of violence and “work for the development of the country’s people”.
Hasina’s remarks came during her introductory speech at a meeting with Awami League parliamentary board members at her Dhanmondi political office in the city.
Criticising her political rival for patronising the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Premier said Khaleda decided to boycott the poll as she knew that her key ally Jamaat could not contest. She added that the High Court had declared the Jamaat’s political registration as illegal and the government has nothing to do with it.
The PM also accused the BNP chief of backing criminals who had committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971, ignoring the interest of the people, “which is very unfortunate”.
Hasina said people will not cast their votes in favour of the BNP as they have not forgotten its corruption, patronage to militancy and other destructive activities.
Referring to the blockade, Hasina said the Opposition was killing people as the Pakistani occupation forces had done in 1971. “This is not a movement or an agitation, but a conspiracy to kill people,” she alleged.
She asked the Opposition leader to go through Article 57 (4) of the Constitution to find out the consequences if no election is held. “Does she want a repeat of the 1/11 like situation? It won’t be good for anyone,” she added.
Criticising the Opposition’s disruptive activities, the PM said: “The BNP’s hartal means killing people by setting them on fire. This is very unfortunate. Actually, they do not want democracy.”
Hasina iterated that the 10th parliamentary election will be held as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission and the BNP-led 18-party alliance would not be able to stop holding of the poll.
Following the AL parliamentary board meeting that started abound 12.30 pm and ended at 2 pm, the party’s deputy office secretary, Mrinal Kanti Das, told the media that the meeting was adjourned for the day. “The party members would meet again today or tomorrow,” he said. He said the list of the AL candidates for the poll was yet to be finalised.
AL parliamentary board member Kazi Zafarullah said: “The list of those who will get AL tickets is yet to be finalised. We will update our nomination list before the last date for submission to the EC.”
AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Obaidul Kader and Syed Ashraful Islam were present at the parliamentary board meeting.
-With The Independent input
