In a dramatic move, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday invited her arch rival opposition leader Khaleda Zia to sit for a dialogue to break the country’s long-drawn political standoff.“Let’s come and sit anytime, anywhere…let’s discuss,” the Prime Minister said delivering her opening speech at a views-exchange meeting with Awami League grassroots leaders from Jhalkati district at her official residence Ganobhaban.
The Prime Minister’s dialogue offer right to the Leader of the Opposition comes after months of stormy politics over war crimes trial, Shahbagh protest and the opposition’s series of hartals to press for its main demand for restoration of the caretaker government.
Hasina urged the opposition leader to place their demands at any place and at anytime, whatever they like. “You can come to Parliament… it’ll be better as it’s the most neutral place,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the opposition party could place their demands in Parliament. “We’ll listen to your demands and we’ll do whatever possible for us,” she said.
Hasina mentioned that the government wants peace to prevail in the country and people lead a secure life, as it is not desirable for anyone to kill people in the name of hartal and put people in any uneasy situation.
Turning to the Savar building collapse, Hasina, said, “It’s a big disaster for the country…at this critical time, we urge the opposition leader to come up and place her demands. We’re ready to listen to your demands… we’ll do everything which will be the best for the country.”
She urged the opposition leader not to do anything that may hamper the country’s democratic process. “We’ll have to ensure the continuation of democratic process.”
Hasina also mentioned that more than 5,600 elections were held in a free, fair and neutral manner under the present government as the government believes in people’s empowerment and ensuring their constitutional rights.
“We want the democratic process to continue in the country.”
The Prime Minister, however, thanked the opposition again for lifting their hartal in response to her request after the Savar building collapse.
“Just after the building collapse I, from a programme, had requested them to withdraw the hartal, they did it in a couple of hours…I thank them for their gesture,” she said.
She also mentioned that BNP and some other political parties had called for hartal for today (May 2) over their various demands. “Again, I requested them to withdraw it as we couldn’t complete the rescue operation at Savar…I convey my thanks to them as they listened to my appeal.”
Turning to the election issue, Hasina said the Election Commission will enjoy the all power during the election. “The EC will enjoy it (power) all.
The election will be held as per the system of the other democratic countries in the world.”
About the opposition leader’s allegation that there was a delay in issuing government order for starting the rescue operation, Hasina said, “Just 20 minutes into the incident, rescue teams reached the spot, which is rare in the world. How could she (Khaleda) know that I didn’t give order in time when the rescue operation started within 20 minutes?”
In this connection, the premier mentioned that it is quite natural for her (khaleda) to remain unaware when the government ordered the rescue operation as the opposition leader usually leaves the bed too late. “That’s why the opposition had waited until 2 pm to lift the hartal,” she said.
Regarding the opposition leader’s another allegation why the parliament was not adjourned, why the President took oath, Hasina said there should not be any disruption in state affairs. “The state affairs must continue. “It’s better to install the head of the state in office as soon as possible.”
Hasina also questioned, “If Khaleda has so much affection for the Savar victims why didn’t she postpone her May Day programme and donate the money for the Savar victims?”
About the allegation of dead body concealing, the Prime Minister said it was there in BNP’s record to conceal dead bodies.
In this connection, she mentioned the accident at Spectrum Garments andsaid the rescue operation in that case was carried out for a couple of days only and then abandoned.
She also requested the opposition to take the public examinations into consideration whiling calling shutdown programme. “It’ll only demoralise the students.”
The PM went on: “Calling hartal is a democratic right of political parties.
But before enforcing any hartal they should consider the pains and sufferings of the general people, especially the students. And it’s also not desirable that they’ll kill people, set fire to buses, trains and other vehicles and power stations and uproot rail lines. You enforce whatever you like under the democratic process but do it shunning destructive
activities.”
Hasina also said she does not want the 2007-like situation when the caretaker government advisers had quit. “After that the caretaker
government was formed with all favorite persons of Khaldea Zia and that caretaker government didn’t want to leave power.”
She recalled the horrifying situation in the country during the caretaker government when she herself and the opposition leader were put behind bars.
“I don’t know whether the opposition leader wants to bring back that situation… we don’t want that.”
AL Advisory Council Member Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium Members Abdul Latif Siddiqui and Satish Chandra Roy, PM’s Adviser Dr Alauddin Ahmed and Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif were, among others, present. AL Organizing Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim conducted the views-exchange meeting. UNB
