Criticising the opposition for enforcing successive hartals inflicting sufferings on the common people, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday alleged that BNP only talks in the language of arms. “They (BNP) only know the language of arms…they don’t want peace to prevail in the country … they only know to cause sufferings to people by indulging in violence, corruption and looting,” she said. The Prime Minister was addressing a mammoth public rally organised by the local unit of Awami League at Khagrachhari Stadium. A large number of people joined the rally in a festive mood defying hartal. Prior to the rally, Hasina witnessed a cultural dance performed by local artistes. AL Advisory Council members Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed and State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukder, among others, addressed the rally chaired by
Khagrachhari AL president Pujendra Lal Tripura. Taking a dig further at the opposition for its misrule during its tenure, Hasina, also the Awami League president, said BNP had always come to power with sinister design as they do not want peace in the country. Alleging that BNP does not believe in the country’s independence, Hasina said her government has started the trial of war criminals. “But, the opposition leader doesn’t want their (war criminals) trial to take place. So, she (Khaleda) is calling hartal one after another to protect them,” she told the rally. Terming Awami League a party that belongs to people, the premier said the nation got its independence under the able leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after a hard and bloody war. “So, we won’t let anyone play ducks and drakes with the fate of the country’s people. There’s no place for war criminals in the independent and sovereign soil of
Bangladesh. The verdicts of war crimes trial are coming out and those will be executed…their trial will continue,” the AL chief said. Mentioning
that BNP knows how to make things destabilize, Hasina said that is why they
are calling hartals frequently causing untold sufferings to people. “I want
to ask the opposition leader what she has gained by enforcing hartals so
frequently though she is passing her days in grandeur and comfort.” About
the fast-approaching general election, the Prime Minister said the
country’s people would cast their votes peacefully and the next government
would be formed with people’s mandate. “And that’s our goal.” Noting that
her government has been implementing the CHT Peace Accord signed in 1997 to
restore peace in the hilly region, the AL chief said 55 sections of the
accord out of 77 have so far been implemented while the rest would also be
implemented. “Although there are some problems and disputes over land, the
Land Commission has been constituted to settle those.” Sheikh Hasina said
peace has been restored in the hill districts after the AL government
assumed office as well as necessary actions and measures had been taken
whenever there was any untoward incident. Highlighting various
achievements and successes of the present government in various fields, the
Prime Minister also sought votes from the local crowd in favour of ‘Boat’,
the election symbol of Awami League. “Give Awami League another chance to
serve the nation to maintain the pace of development and complete the
unfinished tasks.” Earlier from the Khagrachhari Stadium, the Prime
Minister inaugurated Ramgarh 50-bed hospital, Armed Police Battalion
Barrack Building, a 1000-mts capacity food godown, Bhaibon Chora Bridge, a
metrological office, Muktijoddha Complex academic building, Mohalchhari
School, Khagrachhari district council community centre-cum-training center,
Khagrachhari police line school building, hostel of Pankhaiya Para Marma
Unnayan Sangsad at Khagrachhari upazila headquarters, Alok Nabograha Dhatu
Choitaya Buddhist Temple and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute.
Hasina also laid the foundation stones of Grid substation, fire service
station at Dighinala, Tai Nandong shelter project, Shantisthambho chief
judicial magistrate court building. – UNB
