Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday slammed Khaleda Zia for not protesting the resolution adopted in Pakistan parliament condemning the execution of war criminal Abdul Quader Molla.
“Get ready to face people when they will ask for a clarification from you on your silence on the issue,” said Hasina, at a discussion at the Agriculture Institute auditorium in the capital.
“She [Khaleda] said she would take to the streets. First come to streets. You have to explain to people why you tried to save Quader Molla.”
The discussion was held on the occasion of the 42nd Victory Day of Bangladesh. Khaleda Zia is now repentant of not taking part in the polls: “I said the dialogue would continue and if we could reach a consensus we may announce a fresh election dissolving the 10th parliament. But you must cut ties with the Jamat and war criminals.”
Hasina said that Khaleda did not feel good with the victory of Bangalees and this is why she was staying silent about the resolution adopted in Pakistan’s parliament on Quader Molla.
It might have grieved her to speak against Pakistan. If so then why is she living in this country? Hasina questioned saying that it would be better for her to leave the country for Pakistan.
Hasina blamed the BNP for the wins of over half the lawmakers uncontested: “We had information the BNP would join the election and accordingly we had distributed seats among the potential candidates of 14-party alliance.”
“Many of our candidates had withdrawn their candidature. So many people would not have elected unopposed had the BNP contested.” The opposition refrained from contesting the polls and it is not our fault...as there is no goalkeeper on the opposite side, it is very natural to score goals, she said.
BNP did not join the polls because the High Court declared the Jamaat illegal and a militant organisation. The court also disqualified it from participating elections, observed Hasina. As the BNP cannot move without the Jamaat it won’t join the election.
