Responding to BNP’s threat of a fresh anti-government agitation after Ramadan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government would not allow violence in the name of movement.
“She [Khaleda Zia] is threatening movement all the time. Her party wants to overthrow the government through movement but their movement means killing, arson and bombing. This county is ours, we cannot allow such a situation to continue here,” Hasina said while delivering her concluding address of the budget session.
Criticising the agitation of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in the name of resisting the parliamentary election, the premier said their target was to destroy the country and democracy but they had failed.
“We have been able to ensure continuity of democracy,” she said.
The Awami League president claimed good governance prevails in the country, saying: “If there is no good governance then how we have achieved over 6% growth rate?
“We have been able to keep the wheel of the economy moving in the face of their terrorism they had unleashed in the name of movement,” she said.
Recalling seven murders in Narayanganj and Fulgazi upazila Chairman Ekram killing, Hasina said there were some incidents where some of her party men lost their lives.
“We are not sitting idle. We are taking action against the culprits,” the premier said, adding: “A criminal is a criminal. He will face legal actions no matter what party he belongs to. We will not defend anyone considering their party identity.”
Calling on people to pray for having the Bangladesh-India maritime boundary row verdict in favour of Bangladesh, Hasina said: “The verdict will be delivered in the first week of this month. We hope the verdict will be in our favour.”
Explaining the foreign policy of Bangladesh, the prime minister said her government wants good relations with India as well as other South Asian and East Asian counties.
Lambasting Khaleda’s interview published in The Indian Express claiming Awami League was responsible for the recent situation of the country, Hasina said the BNP chairperson had talked to foreign media but did not look at her own face.
The prime minister claimed that military dictators introduced guns, muscle power and black money in politics.
“Ziaur Rahman spoiled the politics of the country and Ershad followed suit,” she said.
Referring to BNP government’s action against Jatiya Party leaders including its Chairman HM Ershad during the 1991-96 term, Hasina said it was true that most of the Jatiya Party leaders were arrested at the time but she could not understand how it was done.
“Why did Khaleda arrest Ershad who had provided Khaleda and her family with all kinds of facilities including lands?” questioned Hasina.