Unelected person not to assume power: PM
Termed BNP's demand for restoration of caretaker system 'illogical'
Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday categorically said no unelected person would be allowed to assume power in the country under any circumstances.
Terming opposition BNP's demand for the restoration of the caretaker system as illogical, she said that the next general election in the country will be held as elections in other countries of the world having parliamentary democracy.
The premier, also the ruling Awami League president, came up with the remarks at a view exchange meeting with the party's Madaripur chapter at the PM's official residence at Ganabhaban.
Hasina claimed that more than 5000 elections, including by-polls and mayoral elections were held during the regime of the incumbent government and none could raise any irregularities over the results. "There were so many trials with the elections of the country in the past. The country has witnessed how the people were oppressed during the election period," she said.
The PM said election is a constitutional right of the people and thus the person would win who gets the vote of the people.
The AL president urged people to stay alert so that events like 1/11 could not be staged in the country and patrons of the militants could not assume power further.
She also asked her party workers to resist any move that could create another 1/11 like situation to pave a way for the unelected people in office, “There will be no benefit if any unelected person is brought in the process."
The PM further urged the main opposition leader Khaleda Zia to join the sessions of the parliament saying, "I ask the opposition chief to join the sessions of parliament or you will lose the seats and you know that very well what will happen after loosing the seats."
Criticizing BNP for running anarchy in the name of movement, Hasina said, "We buy the wagons of rail. She has her acute anger over the transport as she set fire on bogies and buses," she said, adding "I do not know whether she has a business of bus services."
While addressing the programme, Hasina bitterly criticised Hefazat-e-Islam for conducting subversive activities during the May 5 Dhaka siege programme.
"Those who don't believe in Islam, burn the holy Quran, how can they do politics in the name of Islam?" she said and warned that Hefazat would not be permitted to conduct such activities further.
After her speech, a closed-door meeting was started. Leaders of the Madaripur grassroots spoke at the meeting. AL leaders, including Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Alauddin Ahmed, Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Ahmod Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque, AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Mrinal Kanti Das, among others, were present.