Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina doubts whether the agitating opposition would contest the genera) elections as 'opposition leader Khaleda Zia only talks the government's resignation instead of election.

’’We're talking about election, but the opposition is yet to make it clear whether it wants election or would participate in it. This has caused suspicion in the public mind about the opposition motive." she told the JatiyaSangsad yesterday.

The prime minister accused the opposition leader of conspiring to foil election and destroy democracy.

During the PM's Question Time, I lasina asked the opposition leader to pledge to the nation that she would join the election, never call hartal again and sit across the table to settle all election-related issues including the polling date and formation of the caretaker government if she really wanted polls.

"An early election can take place only theorist early settlement ol elected-related issues because an understanding between the government and opposition is a must to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election.

"It is also needed to eliminate chances of a crisis once power is I

transferred to the caretaker government."

Otherwise, she reiterated, the opposition will have to wait for election and the transfer of power in 15 days on expiry of the govem-ment's tenureon July 13.

Replying to questions on the opposition-sponsored hartal, the prime minister reminded the House of her previous offer for early polls by June 12 and leaving office after the Mujibnagar Day on April 17.

But. she regretted, theopposition leader rejected her offer and opted for an ultimatum and a non-stop hartal. The opposition leader even rejected the president's request to sit for dialogue with the government to settle matters of election, she

noted.

She asked the opposition leader what she was getting out of hartal, which only grinds common men.

Voicing deep concern at the killing of and injury to innocent people, and damage to vehicles in bomb blasts and gunfire, the prime minister said the opposition programmes were designed only to create anarchy and cause public sufferings.

She said that government offices, parliament and industrial units, even those belonging to the opposition leaders, remained open during the hartal hours while the poor like rickshawpullers and truck, bus and baby-iaxi drivers were the victims of the opposition programme.

Hasina wondered what the opposition leader would do if the aggrieved people listed the cars and industries belonging to the opposition leaders and start damaging or burning those.

"Has the opposition leader ever thought of such a consequence?"

She said the opposition would not call hartal anymore if the people took to the streets >10 protest such destructive programme. The prime minister remarked that the opposition leader was baying for blood and corpses to reap political benefits.

To another question, she suggested that victims of the hartal or the State could file cases against the hartal-callers under section 302 of the (TP( and assured government's cooperation.

She also asked the people to reject such forces in the next election.

I he prime minister told another questioner that 42 people have been killed and 418 cars damaged during hartals and other agitation programmes by the opposition since June. 1996.