Stressing the importance of the continuity of the country’s democratic process, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday reiterated that the next general election would be held as per the constitution to put an end to undemocratic power changeover. “The next election will have to be held as per the constitution and we’ve to begin the process so that the changeover of power could never happen anymore through any undemocratic way,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this when leaders of Janmastami Celebration Committee, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Committee and Hindu religious leaders called on her at her official residence Ganobhaban in the afternoon ahead of Janmastami to be celebrated on August 28.
Mentioning that the present government believes in people’s empowerment, Hasina said the country’s people would exercise their voting rights freely and those for whom people would cast their votes would be elected and they would assume power.
The Prime Minister also called upon the members of the Hindu community to keep their morale high and tackle the situation with courage if vested quarters try to swoop on minority people during any political turmoil.
Sheikh Hasina said the fanatics who attack Hindu temples, mosques, pagodas and other places of worship are the same. They do not believe in the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy, and creating anarchy is simply their character, she added.
Coming down heavily on some of the country’s internationally acclaimed lawyers who opposed the higher court verdict on the caretaker government system, Hasina said, “I don’t know why they reject outright or don’t take the higher court verdict into account the caretaker government system.”
She said the Supreme Court has declared the caretaker government system unconstitutional and illegal.
The 15th amendment to the constitution was made following the rules of procedure and there was no haste, the Prime Minister said adding that the Special Committee for amending the constitution was formed taking representation from people of all professions, irrespective of their class and creed. The committee also held 27 meetings before the bill was passed in parliament after 12-13 months.
“Now, if anyone says the constitutional amendment was made on anyone’s whim or there was a haste that will be a sheer lie,” Hasina added.
She went on: “We’ll have to begin from somewhere. There’ll be a different kind of trouble if there is a political instability and discontinuity of democratic system. Continuation of democracy is very much indispensable for building Bangladesh with non-communal spirit.”
The Awami League chief said her party does politics in the country in a bid to create a good political environment and strengthen democracy. “We want to ensure transparency and accountability as because no country could achieve prosperity without the continuation of its democratic process.”
In a scathing attack on the BNP-Jamaat alliance for unleashing oppression on the Hindu community after the election in 2001 and thereafter on many occasions, Hasina said people know who are committing such incidents. “Committing such things, they’ve become vocal like ‘biting like a snake and then acting as ojha (healer).”
“We’ve expressed our firm stance against such incidents and are trying our best so that people of all faiths can live in the country freely,” she said.
The Prime Minister said her government wants that the country’s people would live in peace and harmony and no one could play with the fate of people.
Hasina also urged the leaders of the Hindu community to reach a consensus on the process of having the vested property returned. She said the government is committed to returning the vested property to the original owners or their heirs.
President of Bangladesh Janmastami Udjapan Parishd Debashish Palit, secretary advocate Chandan Talukder, vice president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad Kajal Debnath, secretary Monindra Kumar Nath and president of Dhaka Mohanagar Puja Udjapan Parishad Basudev Dhar, among others, spoke on the occasion.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Advocate M Shajahan Mia, Principal of Dhaka Ramkrishna Math and Mission Ameyananda Mohara, Mohanta of Banskhali Hrishidham Sudharshana Nanda Puri, Chief of ISCON Bangladesh chapter Sri Pada Charu Chandra Das Brahamachariya and Moharaj of Sitakunda Shankar Math Sri Math Tapananda Giri were present.
-With The Independent input
