Dhaka – Describing the opposition’s movement as a militant act, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the opposition leader now realises that she has made a mistake by not participating in the 10th general election.
“The opposition leader now realises that what a blunder she (Khaleda Zia) has done by not participating in the election. That’s why she is now killing people by setting fire and enforcing blockades,” she said.
Hasina, also the President of the ruling Awami League, was delivering her speech at a meeting with the members of the Christian community at her official residence Ganobhaban on the eve of Christmas.
About the opposition’s agitation programmes, she said, “This is not a mass movement at all, this is just a militant act, this is a terrorist act.”
The Prime Minister also questioned the intention of the opposition leader behind these militant and terrorist activities.
Talking about the opposition’s election boycott, Sheikh Hasina said they did not participate in the election as they are afraid of facing people by participating in it. “They haven’t entered the field to play, but fled it.”
Blasting the opposition leader for enforcing blockades and hartals day after day, Hasina said any movement is usually for the welfare of people. “But, she (Khaleda) kills people during her movement,” she said.
In this connection, the AL president mentioned the killing of people in buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, cutting down trees, and damaging roads and uprooting rail lines.
Regarding her repeated calls since 2011 to the opposition leader to find out a peaceful way to hold election, the AL chief said the opposition never responded to that.
“I requested her in Parliament, I offered her to join the polls-time government to remove all sorts of confusion, and even I requested her to take the Home Ministry, but she didn’t respond. Whenever I requested her for dialogue, she always turned back.”
Recalling their (Hasina and Khaleda) bitter experiences during the last caretaker government, she wanted to know from the opposition leader whether she has forgotten that.
Hasina also said the High Court in its verdict scrapped the caretaker government system and as a result there is no scope to revert to that system.
Terming Bangladesh a place of communal harmony, the AL chief said the government has established the country as a peaceful place for the followers of all religions. “We never consider any religion small or great. We always look at everyone as a human being,” she added.
In this connection, Hasina recalled the torture and repression of the BNP-Jamaat terrorists during their rule following 2001, and said her government has ensured an environment for the people of all religions so that they can perform their religious rites freely.
Bangladesh Christian Association president and state minister for Social Welfare Ministry Advocate Promod Mankin, Arch Bishop Patric D Rozario and Bangladesh Christian Association secretary general Nirmol Rozario also spoke at the occasion. – UNB
