People Won't Vote For Terrorists, Killers: PM at Ganabhaban

"Why will people give them vote? she said adding a conscious person with human values cannot vote for BNP, Jamaat or 20-party combine that asked for killing people, torching buses by hurling petrol bombs and cocktails."

Addressing a press conference on her recent Indonesia visit at her official residence Gonobhaban here this afternoon, the Prime Minister said, "Before lodging any complaint against free and fair election, Khaleda Zia first should look into her own history."

"How a person responsible for unleashing politics of killing over the last three months can seek public support?" she said criticizing a section of media for their silence about the violation of the 'election code of conduct'.

Apart from different aspects of her Indonesia visit, she focused on all contemporary issues including the city corporation election, current political situation, public concern over probable high intensity earthquake in Bangladesh following the earthquake in Nepal and the building code.

The Prime Minister also responded to the press conference of Khaleda Zia held earlier in the day, saying, BNP Chairperson's speech is a flurry of lies. "Khaleda Zia has uttered a flurry of lies, it is her habit," she said.

Showing a number of pictures taken from the scene of recent incidents during Khaleda Zia's election campaign at different parts of the city, Sheikh Hasina said media didn't published the pictures where the vehicle of Khaleda Zia ran over a boy and her security personnel open fire on people.

Terming Khaleda as the 'queen of falsehood', the Prime Minister said Khaleda Zia has established the politics of falsehood in the country. She was so accustomed with the politics of lies that she even did this maneuver with Amit Shah, President of India's political party BJP and six US congressmen.

Sheikh Hasina said Khaleda Zia was responsible for two years of emergency. None could do business without giving money to Hawa Bhaban, she said adding many foreign investors denied investing in Bangladesh because of the corruption of her son.

The World Bank suspended the financial support to Mymensingh-Dhaka four-lane road due to the corruption of BNP in road sector, she said adding Bangladesh also had to pay for their illegal manpower export to Malyasia and Middle East countries.

Sheikh Hasina said her government after taking office in 2009 brought everything on order through relentless efforts and diplomatic initiatives, bringing the country to a dignified position. But Khaleda Zia and her cohorts contrived to destroy the country's image.

The Prime Minister said Khaleda Zia had left no stone unturned to foil the January 5 elections of 2014 by unleashing terrorism. In the name of movement, she went into oblivion for 92 days ordering her activities to carry out indiscriminate killings and destruction to unseat the government.

Failing to achieve anything from that destructive movement, she said, Khaleda Zia has now decided to join city corporation polls dreaming to win by misguiding people. "Khaleda Zia, who has a track record of election rigging, is now confused about the fairness of the election."

"Khaleda Zia can understand better the election rigging as none is more expert than her to win the elections through rigging," the Prime Minister said.

Khaleda Zia's husband, Ziaur Rahman, came to power through killing, coup and conspiracy. Taking power he (Zia) went for 'Yes' and 'No' vote where there was virtually no participation of the voters. After winning the farcical poll Ziaur Rahman declared him as the President, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Khaleda Zia could give nothing to the nation except rigging, favoritism and partisan politics. After coming to power in 1991, Khaleda Zia presented the nation with most farcical Magura by-poll and Mirpur by-poll. In 2001, she presented another ridiculous poll in the heart of the Dhaka City.

"Why do you forget February 15, 1996 election when only 2 to 3 percent vote was cast in whole Bangladesh? But Khaleda Zia took oath claiming overwhelming majority, but was compelled to quit amid people upsurge," the Prime Minister said.

Sheikh Hasina said as many as 117 innocent people were killed, 508 were burnt, 669 sustained critical injuries in different ways, 1765 transports were torched, 1138 transports were damaged while 18 trains were set on fire and damaged during the 92 days of so-called movement of BNP-Jamaat.

Eight launches were gutted, 70 government offices and installations were destroyed, six land offices were set afire while Awami League offices in many areas were damaged, killing at least 45 Awami League, Jubo League leaders and workers.

Houses of at least 20 Awami League leaders and workers were burnt. Minorities were not spared. Over six hundred workers of BNP-Jamaat were caught red-handed during throwing of petrol bombs, out of which 363 were of BNP and 205 were of Jamaat, the Prime Minister said.

Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League and Jubo League leaders and workers were killed when the party they belong to was in power. "But we have seen no wide coverage and sympathy of press for those people who gave their lives for saving public life and property and tried to stand beside innocent people," she said.

The Prime Minister said BNP chairperson started electioneering, but she neither went to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital to see the condition of the injured people nor expressed any sympathy to the victims and their families. Khaleda Zia even did not give any support to the helpless families of the victims, she said.

Criticizing Khaleda Zia for calling hartal on the days of Biswa Ijtema, religious festivals of different communities and Eid-e-Miladunnabi, the Prime Minister said BNP-Jamaat played ducks and drakes with the lives of 15 lakh students. The British government even tried to withdraw the examination centre from Bangladesh for continuous shutdown.

"The reality is that Khaleda Zia has no faith in Bangladesh, its independence and Bengali language," the Prime Minister said adding as to why she didn't pay homage to the martyrs on Amar Ekushey and Independence and National Day.

Sheikh Hasina said media can flourish Khaleda Zia. But the people who have seen a pregnant woman burned to death in petrol bomb attack, barbaric attack on teachers, children, examinees, students who lost their eye sights, would never respond to the call of the BNP leader.

Terming Khaleda' Zia's statement over her participation in the city corporation election a contradictory one, the Prime Minister said once she viewed it as a local government poll which has no effect on national election. On the other hand, she (Begum Zia) called people to vote against the government in the corporation poll.

Sheikh Hasina said Khaleda Zia had vowed not to participate in any election under the present government. But, sensing her defeat she has started to raise question about the fairness of the poll.

In this regard, the Prime Minister said, "Victory and defeat are part of an election. We will win if people give us vote and otherwise not. There is no relation of the local election with national one," she said.

About the country's preparedness to face any major earthquake in the country, the Prime Minister said Awami League government after coming to power has taken remarkable steps in this regard including formulation of a 'building code'.

"Though people have tendencies to disobey the law without considering consequences", she said, owners, contractors, engineers and people should be conscious about such disastrous situation.

On a question about Prime Minister's Relief Fund and it's use for Rana Plaza victims, the Prime Minister said generous people and individuals donated money to the Fund which is used for supporting the people in case of any disaster.

"People donate to the PM's relief fund not for any particular cause. A certain portion of the fund is kept as 'fixed-deposit' and the rest is deposited in bank accounts," she said adding families of the victims of Tajrin Garments, Rana Plaza collapse and people who suffered burn injuries during BNP-Jammat led hartal were given support from the relief fund.

"People who apply for financial assistance from the fund during their need get support from the fund. According to the rules, audit of the fund is held every year. So everything will be available in the audit report," she said.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol