PM criticizes BNP for one-sided poll

Sheikh Hasina reiterated that her government is ready to dissolve the 10th parliament to hold the next Jatiya Sangsad elections if BNP comes to a consensus and sever its ties with war criminals and Jamaat, a party declared unfit to contest the election by the apex court of the country. "But the 10th parliamentary polls would, inshallah, be held under the constitutional framework to protect the voting rights of the people," she said
Criticizing the opposition leader for her 'no-remark' stance on a resolution adopted in Pakistan parliament on war criminal Quader Molla's conviction, the Prime Minister said, she (Begum Zia) must respond to the matter before any movement to unseat the government. "The High Court stripped the Jamaat of its eligibility to take part in the election. What's our stake in this?" the Prime Minister asked. "Without Jamaat, BNP will not come to election. Even, BNP is afraid of coming before people without the support of the Jamaati thugs," she said.
Expressing her firm resolve to continue the trial of the war criminals, the Prime Minister said, many big powers are showing sympathy to the war criminals, putting pressure to spare them. "But, I don't care anybody except the people of Bangladesh. I'm always ready to do anything and make any sacrifice in the interest of the people," she said adding, "I have lost my parents. I have nothing to lose or gain."
Pointing out the steps taken by her government in the education, health, agriculture, employment and social welfare sectors, Sheikh Hasina said, Bangladesh's economy has enviously moved forward during the tenure of the present government despite global slowdown. She said, the degree of corruption has also been reduced according to TIB. Overall poverty has declined and around five crore people were graduated to middle-income group from lower income.
The Prime Minister said her government is committed to making the country poverty free by 2021. "Our politics is for fulfilling the basic rights of every people including their right to food, healthcare, housing and education," she said.
Awami League Presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury was in the chair while party's advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Suranjit Sengupta, general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, among others, took part in the discussion.

At the outset of the meeting, a minute's silence was observed in memory of Syeda Zohra Tajuddin, party's senior presidium member, who died yesterday