Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the election of huge number of candidates uncontested would reduce polls-related violence.
“Many people have raised question why so many candidates were being elected unopposed. Its aim was to maintain a good atmosphere during the elections. We have sought understanding to prevent violence and killings in the name of elections,” she said while addressing a programme at the Agricultural Institution auditorium in the capital marking Martyred Intellectuals Day.
“I want to set an example of maintaining good atmosphere during the elections,” said Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president.
The premier said she had urged opposition leader Khaleda Zia to ensure a friendly polls-time atmosphere.
“But she [Khaleda Zia] has instead aligned with Jamaat-Shibir and got involved in violence and killings, rejecting the polls,” said Hasina.
“In some of the constituencies, our candidates withdrew their candidature, as a sign of compromise for the parties, who joined the [all-party] government. That is why, in many constituencies there was no need of any contests.
“If the BNP could join the all-party government in the name of democracy and the constitution, we would have done the same.”
Hasina claimed that the opposition leader had started a war against the country and its people, in a bid to save the war criminals.
Warning the opposition leader of consequences for violent activities, the prime minister said: “Stop killing people in the name of movement. You have killed a mother and her daughter at the same time by burning them. We will not sit idle and tolerate these anymore.”
She said the government had showed enough patience. “I ask you to stop killing people or the government will not sit idle. If you want to continue with the anti-liberation forces, you can; but stop killing. Otherwise, the people know how to give a good reply, they know how to win the battle.”
Talking about the execution of war criminal Abdul Quader Molla, the premier said it was her government’s objective to hang at least one of the war criminals,
ahead of observing the Martyred Intellectuals Day. “Now, the other war criminals will also be punished one by one ,” she said.
Regarding caretaker government issue, Hasina said as the court had declared the provision illegal, “I phoned her [Khaleda] to start a new beginning. Instead of accepting my proposal, she started killing people.”
The Awami League president alleged that the BNP had refrained from participating in the polls as Jamaat would not be able to contest the polls following a court verdict that declared the registration of the party illegal.
Senior leaders including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Matia Chowdhury addressed the programme with Presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair.
