Urging the opposition to shun the path of violence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday reaffirmed that the next general election would be held as per the parliamentary system of democracy. There would be no deviation in any way. “At least for once this trend (parliamentary norm) should be introduced in Bangladesh for ensuring the voting rights of the common people as well as maintaining the continuity of democracy …..We’ll do that,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing a discussion meeting marking the historic Six-Point Day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the afternoon.
The discussion meeting was organised by Bangladesh Awami League (AL) central committee with Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad and Awami League Presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair.
Mentioning that some 5,645 elections at different tiers were held during the tenure of the present government where BNP-backed candidates also won the polls, the Prime Minister said no one could now say that election cannot be held in a free, fair and credible manner. “All elections in our tenure were held freely and fairly, and no allegation has been raised against any of these polls.”
Hasina also expressed her firm resolve to hold free, fair and credible elections in the country.
About the recent adjourned motion in parliament followed by its withdrawal by the BNP, Hasina said, “The countrymen should know they (BNP) have cheated the nation by withdrawing the adjourned motion….they themselves have closed the path for discussions.”
The premier alleged that the opposition joined the current parliament session to save their JS seats as they were not present during the presentation of the national budget for FY 14 and also the PM’s question-answer session.
Referring to the 48-hour ultimatum given by the opposition leader in May to oust the government, Hasina quipped that the opposition leader now would have to find her own way to flee the country.
About the mayhem by BNP-Jamaat and also by Hefajat-e-Islam during their Dhaka siege programme on
May 5-6, Hasina said there was no killing at the time. “Instead, the activists killed policemen.”
The Prime Minister said there were 70,000 to 80,000 people, mostly madrasah students, during that night of May 6 and they left the place. “A false campaign was then carried out over the siege programme, and now a fresh propaganda has been launched about the new national budget,” she alleged.
Mentioning that her government has given licenses to more private channels and radios as the government believes in free flow of information, the Prime Minister said that misuse by the media would not be tolerated.
In this regard, she referred to the media reports and pictures published in a section of media doctoring the photos of Haiti earthquake dead bodies. “The pictures of dead bodies in Georgetown and the picture of a Gilaf of holy Kaba Sharif were used to press for the release of a war criminal.” “We can’t spare those who can conduct such propaganda…it can’t be,” Hasina warned.
Mentioning that some 18 coups took place during 1975-1981 in the armed forces after the killings of Bangabandhu and four national leaders, the premier said that then she had felt that the demons of the defeated forces had been running the country.
“The demons of the defeated forces are still there and they don’t want that the people of Bangladesh leave in peace, prosperity and happiness…..plots to deter the democratic process were always there, but the people of Bangladesh stood always against these conspiracies,” she added.
Blasting the so-called intellectuals, reformists, politicians, and the constitution experts who hatched conspiracies to perpetuate the caretaker government system after the 1/11 changeover, the premier said, “Now we hear their different tone…many games were played with the fate of the people of Bangladesh.”
AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Presidium members Adv Sahara Khatun and Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin, Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Vice Chancellor of the National University Prof Dr Harun-or- Rashid, Labour and Employment Affairs secretary of Awami League Habibur Rahman Siraj and Shimin Hossain Rimi, MP, among others, took part in the discussion. UNB
Our Staff Correspondent adds: Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said on Friday that the next general election would be held under an elected government in accordance with the country’s Constitution.
“We have all along maintained that the Awami League will not allow any non-political or unelected government during the time of the election scheduled to be held by January 2014,” he told reporters, after placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi in the city, on the occasion of the historic Six-point Day.
Urging the Opposition to return to Parliament, Syed Ashraful, also the local government, rural development and cooperatives minister, said opportunities were still there to resolve the current political gridlock over the interim government through talks.
AL leader said: “The discussion has to be started at the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament). The issue will be discussed by different teams and we hope a unanimous proposal will emerge.”
He also said that recommendations from different quarters on holding the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner will be considered for the continuation of democratic process.
Replying to a query from a reporter, Syed Ashraf said: “It is the responsibility of a political party to see that a free, fair and credible election is held, not others who have no eligibility to tackle a crisis situation centring around the polls.”
On this day in 1966, Bangabandhu launched a massive movement against Pakistani misrule on the basis of the Six-Point Demand, seeking autonomy for the then East Pakistan.
Eleven people, including Manu Mian, Shafique and Shamsul Haque, were gunned down by the police and paramilitary EPR on this day in Dhaka and Narayanganj during a hartal, called for the release of Bangabandhu and other leaders detained for launching the Six-Point Movement.
-With The Independent input
