Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told the parliament that the government has nothing to do right now to ban Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party, as a case in this regard remains pending with the court.
The prime minister said this while was replying to a supplementary question from the Bangladesh Tarikat Federation Chairman Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary, MP, from Chittagong 2, in parliament on Wednesday.
She said: "There is a case pending with the court over banning Jamaat. We perhaps cannot do anything here until the court delivers the judgment in the case.
The Prime Minister hoped that Jamaat will be banned as soon as the court passes its judgment.
Having failed to fulfil the conditions of registration, Jamaat lost its registration with the Election Commission, which is a prerequisite to participating in an election as a political party, she noted.
She also said: “However, it is a matter of regret that when Jamaat is not registered, Jamaat men became candidates with “sheaf of paddy” in the last general election being united with the BNP.”
Sheikh Hasina expressed her gratitude to the people of Bangladesh for not voting them. "The people of Bangladesh completely rejected those (Jamaat men)," she added.
In reply to a starred question from Jatiya Party MP Dr Md Rustum Ali Faraji from Pirojpur 3, the prime minister said: “All-out efforts are on to complete work on the Padma Bridge by December next although it took additional time for redesigning some pillars.
She mentioned that 62% physical work on the project has already been completed.
Sheikh Hasina, while replying to Awami League MP Shafiqul Islam Shimul of Natore 2, said she considers the premiership as a responsibility, not a matter of enjoyment. "The premiership is not a matter of enjoyment to me; rather it is a responsibility and definitely a difficult responsibility."
Talking about the MP's remark that she made a rare record being elected as prime minister for the third consecutive term, Sheikh Hasina said she is not intopolitics to make a record.
In reply to another question from the ruling party MP Mahfuzur Rahman from Chittagong 3, she cited various reasons behind Awami League's landslide victory in the last general election.
The prime minister said: “The people elected Awami League with massive votes in the free, fair and participatory election on December 30.”
“This victory was expected," she said, adding that “such prediction was made in the reports of different local and foreign surveys before the election.”
She also said the people have benefited due to government's development works done in the last 10 years, and electricity reached almost all villages.
Without mentioning the name of the Jatiya Oikya Front, the prime minister said: “If the rivals are strong, the competition intensifies. It didn't seem to me that those who were our main rivals had any preparation and strategy."
Responding to a starred question from Awami League MP Bazlul Haque Harun of Jhalakathi 1, the prime minister said the government will formulate a plan to coordinate all research activities by establishing a flagship university at national level in the near future.