Dhaka– Mentioning that there is no rationale behind putting a condition by the opposition to sit in a dialogue, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said she wanted to hold the dialogue for the sake of the country and to continue the hard-earned democratic system.“After many odd things, we wanted to hold a dialogue for the sake of the country and also to maintain the hard-earned democratic system. Now she (Khaleda) could sit with us on how to resolve the problems through discussions. When I’ll discuss, I can’t be rigid,” Hasina said.
The premier came up with the remarks while replying to a question during her press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban in the evening.
Replying to another question, she said the condition of the opposition is to accept the caretaker government system. “If that has to be accepted, then what is left for dialogue…the ice is not melting as she (Khaleda) still sticks to her position.”
Deputy leader of the house Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and AL general secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam were present.
Earlier on Thursday, in a much-awaited move, Sheikh Hasina invited her arch rival opposition leader Khaleda Zia to sit for a dialogue to break the country’s long-drawn political standoff.
The Prime Minister said she has no objection to form an interim government ahead of the next general election with representatives from all parties and there could be an understanding in this regard, “But, the election should be held in a democratic process.”
Hasina said the countrymen do not want to return to that horrifying situation of the past army-backed caretaker government. “I don’t know why the opposition leader wants such a situation.”
She alleged that the opposition leader had chosen General Moeen U Ahmed, Iajuddin Ahmed and Fakhruddin Ahmed, but she only got the rice of jail, cases and her sons exiled after a good beating.
The Prime Minister said she had never shown any rigid attitude as she is not an inflexible person, and always wants to move ahead through discussions. “But, there’s no compromise when it comes to matter of principles.”
Referring to the opposition’s countrywide destructive activities like vandalising and torching of vehicles, establishments, killing people, bus drivers, rickshaw pullers, setting fire to railway tracks and bogies, Hasina said she had offered to sit for a dialogue so that they stop such acts and not play game with people lives and stop inhuman acts.
“I feel pain when I see they kill people…I do politics only for the country’s people not to enjoy power,” she added.
Describing that the interest of the country, nation and its people is above everything to her, the Prime Minister said she wants that no one can capture power in the country in the future through any unconstitutional way.
She said if there is no continuation of democracy or democracy is not established then there could be no accountability. “I want the democratic process to continue in the country and not want anything unelected.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged the opposition and Hefajat-e-Islam to suspend their rally and Dhaka Siege programmes scheduled for Saturday and Sunday respectively on humanitarian grounds to ensure smooth rescue operation at the collapsed ‘Rana Plaza’ and the treatment of the injured and their rehabilitation.“I’ll urge both (BNP-led 18-party alliance and Hefajat–e-Islam) to suspend their programmes at this disastrous time when affected people are suffering, fighting for their lives after the building collapse at Savar,” she said while addressing a press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban in the evening.
During the press conference, the Prime Minister described various aspects of the Rana Plaza collapse and talked about the demands of Hefajat-e-Islam and the much-talked-about dialogue issue with the opposition ahead of the next general election.
Hasina said she would not urge both the parties to stop their programmes because those are their political programmes. “But, rescue operation is still going on and there is a need (for all concerned) to go to the Savar site every now and then.”
She also requested the leaders of both Hefajat and the opposition to distribute the amount that were supposed to be spent on Dhaka Siege and rally among the victims and injured of that tragic incident.
The Prime Minister said that the rescue operation at Savar after the tragic incident is still going on and programmes like Dhaka Siege and rally might hamper the ongoing rescue operation and its related activities.
“If they suspend their Dhaka Siege and rally now, we’ll be able to assist the injured and affected of that incident in a bigger way,” Hasina added. UNB
