No place for terrorism, militancy in Bangladesh: PM Sheikh Hasina

Reaffirming her government’s strong commitment, she said that there would not be any place for terrorism and militancy on the soil of Bangladesh.

“Their (BNP-Jamaat-Shibir) wrath would not continue further as there would be no place for terrorism and militancy on the sacred soil of Bangladesh. Inshallah! We’ll ensure peace and security to the people of the country’s stamping militancy and terrorism,” Sheikh Hasina said categorically while addressing a huge public rally at Shah Abdul Hamid Stadium here in the district headquarters.

Gaibandha District unit of Awami League organised the public rally with its acting president and administrator of district council Advocate Syed Shamsul Alam Hiru in the chair.

Health Minister Md Nasim, AL leader Dr Abdur Razzaque, Faruk Khan, MP, Advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia, MP, State Minister for Home affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Mirza Azam, Mahbub Ara Guinea, MP and NAP central leader Advocate Lutfur Rahman Ranju, spoke, among others, at the public rally.

Alleging that the BNP chairperson had tried in vain to save the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the president of the ruling Awami League said, “You (Khaleda) have also tried to save the war criminals, but failed. The verdicts in the war crimes trial are given and the trial will continue. You will not be able to stop the trial.”

“If your (Khaleda) heart burns for Pakistan, then you may go to Pakistan …..but, don’t inflict sufferings to country’s people and play ‘ducks and drakes’ with the people of Bangladesh anymore,” she went on to add.

The Prime Minister alleged that the BNP chairperson has been trying to stop the war crimes trial as her heart is filled with ‘Pyare Pakistan’ and also she whispers ‘Pyare Pakistan’ adding: “She (Khaleda) doesn’t believe in Bangladesh and also never believed in the independence of the country. So, she kills people to save the war criminals.”

Turning to the January 5 polls to the 10th Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament), the AL president said that Khaleda Zia had tried forcefully to stop the polls unleashing terrorist attacks on police, presiding officers, voters, damaging polling centres, but she had failed to stop voting as people of the country had cast their votes with a turnout of 40 to 45 percent not responding to her call.

Citing different incidents of violence unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat hooligans in Gaibandha district over the last few months, she said that the people here do not want to see terrorism, conflict and militancy anymore, rather they want peace and safety to lead a better life.

“We’ll not tolerate any kind of terrorist act further and you all keep this in your mind,” the Prime Minister assured the mammoth public rally.

Bitterly criticising BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, the AL president said, “Khaleda Zia does not like anything except terrorism. She does not like peace and tranquillity even in her personal life while there is no truth in her words.”

In this context, the Prime Minister came down harsh on the BNP chairperson for having so many birthdays, particularly for celebrating August 15 as her birthday when the whole nation observe the day as the National Mourning Day commemorating the horrendous assassination of Bangabandhu and most of his family members in 1975. “Can you imagine, what a mental disorder she possesses,” she said.

Ruling out the BNP chairperson’s claim that she is the leader of country’s 96 percent people, Sheikh Hasina termed it as very unfortunate for the nation as Khaleda Zia could not clearly say
her own real birthday, her husband’s birthday and even the date
of holding of the national polls on January 5. “She (Begum Zia)
had stated in a recent rally that the national polls were held on
May 5,” the AL president quipped.

Citing the killing of farmers here in Gaibandha for demanding
fertilizer at fair price during the rule of BNP in 1991, the
Prime Minister said that farmers need not to lay down their lives
demanding fertilizer during the tenure of the Awami League government as fertilizers run behind them (farmers) now.

Sheikh Hasina also assured the huge audience that her government would make compulsory computer education at primary level, build at least a tin-shed house for all of the people, introduce ferry service on the Balashi-Bahadurabad river route and a railway bridge if possible after feasibility study, present a science and technology-based educated nation, reach power supply to each houses, set up mills and factories through establishing Special Economic Zone in this region as well as construct houses free of cost for the landless and homeless people in Gaibandha district.

The Prime Minister also expressed her firm resolve to build a mid- income country free from hunger and poverty by the year 2021 and a developed country in the community of nations by 2041.