Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday ruled out any possibility of clamping a state of emergency in the country.
She was speaking at a weekly question-answer session in parliament where she said no such situation had arisen in the country that demands such a move right now.
“Why an emergency rule is needed?” the premier asked.
“We will allow not allow anybody to create such a situation that calls for an emergency,” Hasina confidently told parliament.
In reply to a supplementary question from Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Hasina said no conspiracy could be hatched because people are united to foil such attempts.
“We will protect the country as long as blood flows in our veins.
“We have taken all the necessary initiatives to control the law and order situation to avoid recent violent incidents. There is no room for declaring a state of emergency as our government will not allow anything unconstitutional in the country,” the premier said.
People have no attachment with the BNP-led combine’s movement and the government along with people will take care of the ongoing anarchy, she said.
However, she explained the procedure of imposing emergency: “In 2007, Iazuddin was the president as well as the head of the state. That was why he could do it [enforce emergency]. But this time I have to seek the president’s permission for clamping emergency, not before that.”
Those who are expecting an emergency they are daydreaming, she said, adding: “We can handle the current situation and make sure that no unconstitutional force can grab power.”
Law enforcement agencies have been kept alert so that they can tackle any kind of untoward incident.
“We have declared cash rewards for information on petrol-bombers and hope that the situation will improve within a short time,” she said replying to another question. The premier also came down hard on those who attend talk shows on televisions.
“Most of them cannot tolerate a democratic environment and they are looking forward to something else,” the PM said. She said her arch rival Khalada Zia wanted to destroy the country for serving her greed for going to state power.
In reply another supplementary question from Sanzida Khanom, the prime minister said the existing laws are enough to bring all attackers and their mastermind to book.
Over the last couple of days, several lawmakers have urged the premier to enact a new law to tackle anarchy.
About the SSC examination, Hasina said the education sector has seen superb discipline in the last six years, but the ongoing movement has spoiled all the good work, plunging the sector into uncertainty. The government has rescheduled the SSC examination because every life is important and her government could not let any innocent people die.
“We cannot depend on an insensible woman like Khalada Zia who is desperately trying to grab power. Under this situation, we cannot continue exams and push our 1.5 million innocent students into uncertainty.”