Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the people to re-elect Awami League, so the government could bring back BNP acting chairperson and Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, and execute the verdict against him in the August 21 grenade attack cases.
"Allah willing, if we can return to power through the next election, we will definitely be able to bring Tarique Rahman back and implement the verdict," she told parliament while replying to a supplementary question from Treasury Bench MP Fazilatun Nasa Bappy during the question-answer session, reports UNB.
"This is why I seek blessings and votes from people, so that we can rectify this injustice and execute the verdict after returning to power," the Prime Minister said.
Mentioning that Tarique Rahman has been sentenced to life-term imprisonment, she said: "We are negotiating with the British government to bring him back."
"As they have been tried and the verdict has been pronounced, they must serve their sentence one day, no matter where they are hiding," Sheikh Hasina added.
She further said there is no doubt that Tarique and his mother and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia were involved in the August 21 grenade attack, just as his father Ziaur Rahman had been involved in the August 15 massacre.
"They carried out such a heinous attack in broad daylight. They used grenades in the streets, which are used in wars, and killed so many people, including Ivy Rahman," the prime minister told parliament.
"We want blessings from the people and their votes for the boat (in the next general election), so that we can serve the country for another term, ensuring peace and security for the people by eliminating injustice, militancy, terrorism, and drugs," she added.
"If people seek justice against anyone who is involved in militancy, terrorism, and drugs, or utters indecent words, then it is the duty of the state to try them. We have been putting them on trial and will continue to do so," she further said.
'Rivals will be tackled politically'
The prime minister on Wednesday also said that she welcomed the newly formed Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Front, as the participation of more parties and alliances in the national election will strengthen democracy.
She made the comment in response to a supplementary question from Awami League MP Sagupta Yesmin in parliament.
Hasina said that that she would never back-off from political rivals, and would always face them politically.
"I welcome those who forged the political alliance, as everyone has the right to practice politics," she said.
If various parties forge alliances and take part in the election, it will further strengthen the foundation of democracy in the country, she added.
However, the prime minister also said that some members of the alliance did not know how to speak respectfully, and had even demonstrated misogynistic sentiment.
Such people lack the patience and self-sacrificing attitude needed to work for the people, she said.
Responding to various starred questions, she discussed her government's successes in different areas, including GDP growth, the size of GDP and national budget, per capita income, revenue collection, electricity generation, poverty alleviation, crop production, and manpower export.