Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the BNP to attend parliament and set out its proposals for a discussion about the poll-time government.
The premier was exchanging views with the Awami League (AL) leaders from Chapainawabganj district in the capital’s Ganabhaban, her official residence on Saturday morning.
“Come to parliament and discuss your demands. Do not come only to secure your parliament membership. Please do not walk away just after registering your attendance,” Hasina said.
On Friday, senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmad said the party would attend the upcoming budget session of the parliament, scheduled to begin on June 3.
Most opposition lawmakers have been absent from parliament for at least 82 consecutive days.
According to the Rules of Procedure, an MP cannot refrain from attending sessions of parliament for more than 90 days in a row.
Sheikh Hasina said: “I saw in newspaper reports that if they [BNP lawmakers] do not attend the parliament this time, they will lose their seats. Already 82 days out of 90 are gone.”
Addressing opposition chief Khaleda Zia, the prime minister said: “She her own style of attending parliament for a single day and leaving after delivering a long speech. Please do not do it this time.”
Referring to Khaleda Zia’s 48-hour ultimatum, the premier asked: “I offered her talks but she gave me a threat that I would not find any path to flee. Now I am asking, who is not finding the path to flee?”
“You [Khaleda Zia] called upon your leaders and activists in Dhaka to assist Hefazat. But why did your party men not respond to your call?” Hasina said.
She told her party that the next national elections would be held in the way polls are held in other democratic countries across the globe.
“If the opposition has anything to say about this then they can do it in parliament. We will consider their demands,” she added.
Emphasising that the government was trying to keep the democratic process in the country running uninterrupted, she urged the opposition to shun the path of destructive politics.
“If the BNP continues its destructive politics, then the government would restrain them with iron hands. The government knows very well how to manage everything,” Hasina warned.
After Sheikh Hasina’s speech, Chapainawabganj district unit AL President Brigadier General (Rtd) Mohammad Enamul Haque, also State Minister for Power, Energy & Mineral Resources, addressed the meeting.
AL leader Abdul Latif Siddique, Nuh-ul-alam Lenin, Satish Chandra Roy, Dr Alauddin Ahmed, Mabub-Ul-Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, among others, were present at the meeting
