Pakistan’s views carry no matter for Bangladesh: HPM Sheikh Hasina

The trial will certainly give them pain mentally and it will break down their hearts as war criminals are their allies," she told a press conference at her Gonobhaban residence here on Sunday afternoon.

The press conference was organized to inform the media about the Prime Minister's visit to two North American countries last month and her participation in the 71st session of the UN General Assembly and other programmes in Canada and the United States.

"Pakistan is a defeated force. We have defeated them in the War of Liberation. As a defeated force they can tell many things, which bears no matter for us," the Prime Minister said.

"Diplomatic relations can have there between the two countries despite differences of opinion. Pakistan's views are nothing but the aspersions of a defeated party, which the people of Bangladesh should consider in this manner," she said.

The Prime Minister said the people of Bangladesh now should think about them who had created room for Razakars and Al Badars in the cabinet. Ziaur Rahman made the collaborators of Pakistani forces ministers of his cabinet and suspended the trial of the war criminals. His wife Khaleda Zia made the leaders of Razakar and Al Badar forces ministers.

"So, the people should decide who they would allow to do politics in this country and whether they would sever links with those cohorts of Pakistan," the Premier said.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Minister for Public Administration Syed Ashraful Islam, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, PM's Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam were present.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has protested every remark of Pakistan and decided to boycott the SAARC Summit for their stand on war crimes trial. Four other countries have refused to attend the Summit for their reasons which led Pakistan to cancel the event.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh never wants any tension or war between India and Pakistan. Bangladesh would also be affected by any war between the two countries and Bangladesh's journey towards prosperity would certainly be frustrated.

Terming the current issues between India and Pakistan as absolutely bilateral, Sheikh Hasina said, "We want the two countries to resolve their problems bilaterally. We don't expect any conflict in this region."

Replying to a question about the relevance of SAARC in the present context of disarray among South Asian nations, the Prime Minister said SAARC countries jointly would take decision about the future of the South Asia forum.

She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first floated the concept of cooperation among the South Asian nations after Bangladesh's liberation. So, there should be a joint initiative in South Asia for socioeconomic development and resolving the common problems of the people of the region.

"But it's true that the existing SAARC framework is unable to resolve any problem. Everything is being kept under carpet and it's the reality," she said, adding, "Certainly, we have to find a way to overcome the situation."

Sheikh Hasina said as the chairperson of the forum, Nepal will now take a decision with member countries about the next course of actions.

About a question on BNP's demand to allow the party to have a role in the process of formation of the next Election Commission (EC), the Prime Minister reminded the questioner about the EC which had been constituted by BNP government during their time from 2001 to 2006.

"BNP certainly wants that kind of EC what they constituted during their regime. People still can remember that EC had made a voter list with one crore 28 lakh false voters to ensure their victory in the next election," she said.

"The existing EC didn't make such a false voter list at least, which BNP might not like," the Prime Minister said, adding that they (BNP) want such a commission which would make false voters for them.

In this regard, the Premier also pointed out the farce parliamentary election on February 15, 1996 and the polls during the BNP regime in the parliamentary seats in Magura and Dhanmondi and Tejgaon in Dhaka which was marred by absolute rigging and manipulation.

Awami League first demanded for a voter list with photographs of voters, she said and added the last caretaker government, despite its many misdeeds, had successfully prepared an accurate voter list.

"If we take their (BNP) suggestions, I fear, the next EC would be like ones which BNP had constituted during their regime," the Prime Minister said.

About the coming conference of Bangladesh Awami League, the Premier said Awami League is the only party in the country which is regularly holding its conferences and functioning with the opinions of the grassroots workers. The next conference will also be held on October 22 and 23 next, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said as a mother she is proud of her son Sajeeb as he earned recognition for his constant stride to move Bangladesh forward as a digitally advanced country. She also urged everybody to pray for her son who was born at a very difficult time.