Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged people not to vote for the candidates whose name came up in Padma Bridge scam and for whom the dignity of the country was undermined.
The AL president made the statement yesterday during her election campaign speech in support of the party’s candidate from Faridpur 4 Qazi Zaharullah, reports BSS.
She also said: “Ahead of the election some people are introducing them as my kith and keen. But, I firmly say, except my sister Rehana and our children, I have no relations.”
However, she did not point out any names.
Mojibur Rahman alias Nixon Chowdhury is contesting as an independent candidate from Faridpur 4 constituency in the upcoming polls against Awami League’s presidium Member Qazi Zaharullah. Nixon Chowdhury claims himself as a relative of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his name is also listed among the people involved with the Padma Bridge scam.
In her speech, she said the construction of the main bridge would only begin if her party came to power in the upcoming elections. She said her government had initiated the Padma Bridge project but its implementation was hampered as the World Bank withdrew its commitment of finance.
Regarding BNP’s participation in the 10th parliamentary polls, she said BNP had to wait for the 11th parliamentary elections as they missed the first one.
She said: “A dialogue can take place with the BNP about the 11th parliament election if the party gives up terrorism and anarchy and renounce its association with terrorist party Jamaat-e-Islam.”
The prime minister said: “BNP cannot participate in the electiond without Jamaat-e-Islami, a party dubbed as a terrorist organisation by the High Court, declaring it unfit to take part in the election.”
She claimed BNP was pursuing the path of destruction as their main ally, Jamaat, cannot participate in the elections. She also said BNP preferred resorting to terrorism to protect the war criminals rather than taking part in the elections.
Regarding BNP’s march, she said: “Begum Zia has called the march-for-democracy on December 29 commemorating her party’s crushing defeat in the popular vote on this day five years back.” She also said BNP does not believe in democracy.
Urging Khaleda Zia to stop her ruinous politics with anti-liberation forces, the prime minister said one day the countrymen would put her on dock as an instigator of the heinous criminal activities.
“Khaled Zia is trying to foil the polls. But she has no power to thwart it,” she added. She urged people to come to the polling centres and cast vote for ‘Boat’.
She said here was no doubt that the forthcoming election would be held in a free, fair and neutral manner.
