Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday advised BNP chief Khaleda Zia on how she could earn people’s trust and come to power in future, but for the moment she said Khaleda should focus on her party and leave the “path of violence.”
“The way you are doing politics will not benefit the people; rather, you will lose their trust and confidence. Shun the path of violence and choose the one of peace. Tell the people about your plans for the betterment of people’s socio-economic condition,” the prime minister said in her speech marking one year of the 10th general election.
“Reorganise your party; then you may have some scopes in the future [to come to power]. People want security, peace and development,” she said.
Reiterating that it was Khaleda’s “political mistake” not to join the 10th general election, Hasina said: “You and your party are out of parliament because of your political mistake. Who will you blame? You have to blame yourself.”
In her written speech, the prime minister elaborated the achievements of her government’s consecutive two terms in different sectors and compared with the BNP-Jamaat-led four-party government of 2001-06. However, she did not mention anything about the possibility of a dialogue over mid-term election, a demand that the BNP-led alliance has been pressing since the election.
The premier claimed that her government had curbed corruption significantly by strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Mentioning that the Awami League has so far given licence for 32 television channels, 22 FM radio stations and 32 community radios, she said: “The media in Bangladesh is now enjoying absolute freedom.”
Blaming the BNP-Jamaat activists for the incidents of violence before the election, Hasina said: “Again, there have been efforts to create anarchy when the country is moving forward through the highway of development.”
She also claimed that those who did not believe in the existence of Bangladesh were conspiring to foil the war crimes trials and save the accused and convicts. Hasina affirmed that her government would complete trial of all war criminals.
Also the ruling Awami League president, Hasina said: “We want to come out of the ill political culture. We want to establish the form of politics that will serve the country and the people.”
The premier also asked for assistance of the people to make the country a developed one by 2041 in line with her party’s 2014 election manifesto. “Before the 2008 election, we pledged to turn Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021. Insha’Allah, we will reach our goal ahead of the time.
“Because of the people’s cooperation, we have been able to carry forward the development initiatives taken earlier. Moreover, it has given us the scope to take up new plans ...”
She urged the people to uphold the spirit of democracy by building resistance against any subversive acts and militancy.
Saying that her party was “ready to make sacrifice” to hold the 10th parliamentary election in line with the constitution, Hasina said: “We tried a lot to sit for dialogue before the election. We wanted to make sacrifices to hold election under the constitution. We were ready to form all-party cabinet ahead of the election … we had only one demand – to hold the election under the purview of the constitution. There is no scope to conduct the poll under an unelected government system.
“But the BNP-Jamaat alliance wanted to create anarchy and destabilise the country with a view to capture power through the back door. But the people did not step into their trap ...”
She said 2014 was a glorious year in the history of Bangalis in terms of overall development, continuation of the constitution and democracy and keeping the people inspired by the spirit of the Liberation War.
“In the five years of previous tenure and one year of the current tenure, Bangladesh has become a role model in the world with respect to improvement in socio-economic condition of the people. It has happened because of the successful implementation of our development schemes.”
On the other hand, Hasina said the 2001-06 term of the BNP-Jamaat government was full of misrule, corruption and militant activities. “Moreover, the country’s economic condition remained devastated during the two years of the subsequent caretaker government because of their oppressive policy.”