Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a statemnent yesterday warning the BNP-Jamaat that they would have to shun militant and terrorist activities if they wanted to do politics in Bangladesh.
“You [BNP-Jamaat] will have to shun militant and terrorist activities if you want to do politics in Bangladesh, or else, people will reject them,” she said.
Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, issued the warning in her introductory speech at a meeting of the party’s Central Working Committee at Ganabhaban in the evening.
Regarding the ongoing terrorist acts in various parts of the country, Hasina said the government was doing what was necessary and would tighten the measures if necessary. She claimed that it was the sacred duty of the government to save the lives and property of people.
“Militancy and terrorism will have to be stopped at any cost and there will be no place for the militants and terrorists on Bangladesh soil,” she said.
Pointing her finger at some “powerful quarters,” Hasina said no one could save these bad elements from their punishment, no matter how powerful they are. “They will not be able to save these [militant and terrorist] elements despite their tall talks,” she said without naming any country.
The AL chief asked the BNP-Jamaat alliance to come to the “path of democratic process” in Bangladesh. Otherwise, she added, the people of the country would not accept them.
The prime minister mentioned that the government had many things to do in the coming days and their first priority would be saving people from the militants and terrorists.
The three-time premier said: “What was the fault of these innocent people? They just cast their votes in the election, nothing else.”