PM blasts BNP-Jamaat for politics of violence:Daily Sun

Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami are doing politics of violence and destruction, as she claimed that they do not believe in democracy. “They killed people to foil the January 5 elections and burnt several hundred copies of the holy Quran, set fire to mosques and a huge number of trees in the name of movement,” Hasina said. She came up w
ith the remarks at an Iftar party hosted by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at the National Press Club in the capital. The premier alleged that while in power, BNP-Jamaat established a reign of terror in the country by patronising militancy and unleashing massive violence. “People were not safe during the BNP-Jamaat regime, but they are now living in peace,” Hasina added. The premier also said that the country is now moving forward. “Nobody will be able to create obstacles to the country’s development and progress.” She also sought cooperation from the media for the sake of flourishing democracy and continuation of the ongoing development activities. “The media cannot enjoy freedom unless democratic environment exists in the country. Let’s take the country forward,” Hasina said. Hinting at the critics, she said, “You can criticise the government, but you should be careful so that none can hinder the country’s development and tarnish its image abroad.” Pointing finger at the BNP chief Khaleda Zia, the premier alleged that they are making falsehood against the government every day during iftar programme. “We can give reply to their falsehood. But we are not doing so. We are just listening. I am speaking here today as journalists created a chance for me to speak,” she said. Assuring journalists of resolving housing problems of the community, Hasina said her government has taken the country ahead amid global recession. The government has been able to keep gross domestic product over 6 per cent and implement 96 per cent of the annual development programme, she said. “No other governments in the past could do it.” The country’s foreign reserves have now crossed $11 billion, the premier went on saying. On power sector, she said her government has achieved significantly in generating power in the last five years. “The BNP-Jamaat and the army-backed caretaker governments in seven years didn’t generate power, rather decreased production. After assuming office, the [present] government has generated over 11700MW of electricity.” Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, BFUJ Secretary General Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, DUJ President Altaf Mahmud and General Secretary Kuddus Afrad, among others, also spoke. BFUJ President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul chaired the iftar programme. A host of ministers, lawmakers, Awami League central leaders, editors of different dailies and senior journalists attended the event. A special munajat was followed by the iftar, seeking the country’s lasting peace and overall progress.