Cooperation of opposition urged, post of JS deputy speaker offered for opposition
Staff Correspondent
The Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday said her government would not pursue politics of vengeance and urged cooperation of the opposition parties in running the government effectively.
‘We will not pursue politics of vindictiveness and vengeance. We want to present a new culture of politics. Let us come forward to bury all the differences and work together,’ said Hasina as she addressed her first press meet at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre after the landslide victory of the alliance led by the Awami League in Monday’s polling.
‘We do not consider the opposition in terms of number as it is very much a part of the government in a parliamentary democratic system,’ she said.
She labelled poverty as number one enemy and said united efforts were needed to fight against poverty to improve the living standards of the people. ‘Our first task will be to reduce goods prices to bring them within the reach of the poor.’
Hasina, who is expected to formally take over as prime minister in a week after her party and allies had won 262 out of 299 parliamentary seats, sought cooperation from her political opponents to translate her visions into reality.
She offered the post of the deputy speaker in the parliament and the chairmanship of the parliamentary committees proportionately to the opposition lawmakers to work together for a better Bangladesh.
Calling on all concerned to bring about changes in the political culture resolving the mistrust and burying hostility, she said the opposition parties in the parliament should play an important role in governance.
Asked if she would choose ministers from among opposition lawmakers, she replied her cabinet between 1996 and 2001 had included two opposition members.
‘I do not have any problems with that,’ she said adding that her government’s target would be to improve the living standards of the people.
She thanked the people and the political parties for making the polls participatory, and thanked the interim government and the Election Commission for holding the polls peacefully for transition to a democratic system.
She said it was not the victory of her party alone but also the victory of the people as they gave their verdict in favour of the good.
‘It is a victory for non-communal democracy against communalism. It is a victory of governance against misrule and of peace against terrorism,’ Hasina said.
Asked how she would address the poverty issue, Hasina listed a number of social measures, including improvement in the
level of education of the people.
Hasina was scheduled to address the press at the National Press Club on Tuesday, but it was deferred in view of the crowd of her party leaders in a comparatively small place.
Several hundred party leaders, newly elected party lawmakers and well-wishers on Wednesday attended the briefing. Hasina answered a number of questions from the local and foreign media.
In reply to a question whether her political archrival Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party greeted her or if she greeted Khaleda, Hasina said it was always the winners who are greeted. ‘But I did not receive any bouquet or phone call.’
She said she was in a dilemma whether to send her rival a bouquet, but she later dropped the plan considering how Khaleda might take it. ‘I was also about to make a phone call to her, but finally dropped the plan. I convey greetings to her through you,’ said Hasina.
Her main rival earlier on Tuesday rejected the polls results, saying the polls were farcical.
In reply to another question, Hasina said her government would work towards forming a regional task force to fight against terrorism in South Asia.
‘We will initiate to form a South Asian task force to ensure peace combating terrorism,’ Hasina said at the briefing. ’Progress is impossible without peace.’
The Awami League’s election manifesto endorsed a common anti-terrorism strategy for the region which is frequently battered with attacks.
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and other nations should jointly work to face the challenges posed by terrorists, regional and domestic, said Hasina.
Emphasising a strong role of India and Pakistan, the two regional powers having nuclear weapons, Hasina said terrorism was a big problem in the region and all the countries should work together to root out the problems to ensure peace and security. She said she would do her best to defuse tension between India and Pakistan.
Brushing aside allegations of Indian insurgents being sheltered in Bangladesh, Hasina said her party never allowed acts of violence and terrorism. ‘In future as well, we will never allow anyone to use the land of Bangladesh for insurgency against anyone.’
Courtesy: newagebd.com
