Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday claimed that the main opposition BNP did not understand the language of development, progress or democracy.
“BNP only knows killings and lootings. When the government is working for the development of the people, BNP is killing people in the name of movement. This party does not understand the language of development as it does not want people’s progress,” Hasina said while addressing a ruling party rally on the grounds of Azimpur Girls High School in the capital.
The rally was organised by Lalbagh and Kotwali units of Awami League.
Hasina, who is also AL president, said her government wanted people’s development, and continuation of development required continuation of the government. “For the sake of development, cast your votes for ‘boat’ once again,” Hasina said, referring to her party’s election symbol.
The PM said her government’s development activities included increase in electricity, gas and water supplies, steps to free the country from militancy and terrorism, progress in law and order, reduction in traffic jams and surplus in food production.
At the start of her speech, the prime minister recalled her days at the Azimpur school where she was once a student. She also made an announcement to nationalise the institution, which was established in 1957.
Hasina bitterly criticised BNP and described the party’s alleged misrule during previous tenures.
“BNP’s basic character is to kill people and indulge in corruption. When this party was in power, it tried to annihilate the then opposition Awami League. When Khaleda Zia was prime minister, she whitened her black money and her sons smuggled money out of the country,” Hasina said, adding that her government had recovered the smuggled money.
She also alleged that BNP had taken up the path of destruction to create obstacles to the development activities of the incumbent government.
Referring to the mayhem committed during Hefazat-e-Islam’s Dhaka blockade programme on May 5, the AL chief claimed that activists of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat set fire to a large number of holy Qurans, although those parties were doing politics using the name of Islam.
“Those who can burn Qurans, how will they take care of Islam?” she asked.
Before joining the rally, Hasina inaugurated or laid foundation stones for a number of development projects in the Lalbagh-Kotwali area, including a 10-storied women’s hostel at Eden College, Azimpur sub-station, Midford sub-station and Prosonna Podder Lane government primary school.
Lalbagh unit AL president Abul Hasnat presided over the rally, which was also addressed by party leaders Matia Chowdhury, Nurul Islam Nahid, Mahabub-ul-Alam Hanif, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Quamrul Islam, Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin and Fazley Noor Taposh.
