Khaleda had wanted army takeover: PM:Daily Sun

Sheikh Hasina HABIGANJ: Renewing her party’s allegation that Khaleda Zia boycotted the January-5 election sensing defeat, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the BNP chief had actually wanted to create a Thailand-like situation where martial law was declared amid the opposition’s movement, reports UNB. “She (Khaleda) had actually wanted to create a situation in the country like the one i
n Thailand obstructing the January-5 election,” she told a mammoth public rally at Habiganj New Field. Hasina said the BNP leader had tried to foil the election. “What would have happened had the election been stalled …look at Thailand, martial law has been declared there, and there has been no election schedule.” The Prime Minister also said Khaleda Zia did not participate in the election sensing defeat in the election. “But why did you (Khaleda) try to resist people, why did you kill the presiding officer,” she asked. Chaired by local MP Advocate Abu Jahir, the rally was addressed, among others, by AL advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikder, former chief whip Abdus Shahid, Biren Sikder and local Awami League leaders. Describing the positive side of BNP’s polls boycott, Hasina said now there is no incident of badmouthing in Parliament. “BNP didn’t participate in the election…there’s a positive side, too…now we don’t have to hear spiteful and indecent remarks in Parliament.” Mentioning that parliament is now operating decently and people found back their confidence in it now. “Democracy is running uninterruptedly,” she added. The Prime Minister also mentioned that BNP with the help of Jamaat-e-Islami set fire to Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and torched hundreds of copies of the holy Quran. “They (BNP-Jamaat) do politics using the name of Islam and protecting Islam. What’s their Islam? Is it setting fire to mosque and holy Quran? Let me ask her (Khaleda), your movement is to burn the holy Quran, Is this your way of protecting Islam?” she asked. Talking about the patronising war criminals by BNP in the past, Hasina said that those who are facing the trial for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity in 1971 had been patronised by Khaleda Zia. “She (Khaleda) had provided the national flag to war criminals. Khaleda Zia did the heinous subversive act with this,” she said. The AL chief said one day Kahleda Zia will have to face the trial of people’s court for her betrayal with them. “Khaleda Zia is the enemy of the country and its people. “She doesn’t want the welfare of people.” Terming Awami League the party of people, the Prime Minister said whenever AL comes to power it always works hard for their welfare.