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PM asks Khaleda about caretaker govt issue

Agencies
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked opposition leader Khaleda Zia to return to parliament and say whatever they like on the caretaker government issue.
She made the call while addressing a discussion marking the historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the city, reports UNB.
Bangladesh Awami League organised the discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre with Deputy Leader of the House and Presidium Member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair.
Hasina said she finds it funny seeing the BNP chairperson crying for caretaker government system as she was once against it.
“If she thinks that elections under the caretaker government are free and fair then she has to accept that the election in 2008 was free, fair and acceptable,” Hasina said.
The prime minister also mentioned that AL had favoured caretaker government after its bitter experience of the elections under the then BNP government. “We saw Magura-like election. That's why we demanded the caretaker government,” she said.
About the last caretaker government, Hasina said Khaleda had made lajuddin president, BNP's former foreign affairs secretary the chief justice and extended the age limit to make his chief adviser and superseded Moeen U Ahmed to make him army chief.
“This is not the end, BNP had also included 1.23 crore fake voters in the voter list. You had indulged in a conspiracy,” Hasina alleged.
Reaffirming a firm stance against any sort of anarchy in the country in the name of anti-government movement, Hasina said, “We'll help you stage peaceful movement. But please, stop killing people by torching buses.”
She warned that bombings in the name of agitation will never be tolerated. “The government will tackle such acts with an iron hand.”
Regarding Khaleda's allegation at the Chittagong rally, she said BNP demonstrates anti-Indian attitude when they are in the opposition, but they are very much pro-Indian when they are in power. “What did you do about the Teesta River water sharing when you were in power,” she asked.
Hasina said AL never worked against the interests of the country. “We always protect its interest.”
She said Khaleda from the Chittagong rally said if they are voted to power, they will ensure development of the country as they did during their previous rule.
“Previous time you had just bogged down into corruption, money laundering and patronising militancy and extremism. Are these your development activities? Does Khaleda mean such development when they will be voted to power?”
The prime minister also termed BNP-Jamaat “a group of conspirators” and urged people to resist them as they do not believe in the country's independence and economic emancipation.
“BNP-Jamaat is a nexus of conspirators and they don't believe in the country's independence. This was true in 1971 and it is still true in 2012,” she said.
Khaleda is playing an active role to save the war criminals and doing whatever is possible for her to protect them, Hasina added.
Referring to the Comilla City Corporation election, she said, “This election has
proved that the AL government could provide all-out support to the Election Commission to hold free, fair and neutral polls. All elections under this government were free, fair, neutral and acceptable.”
She said BNP boycotted the CCC polls protesting the use of electronic voting machine (EVM), but at last their candidate won the election. “What will the opposition leader do now?” she asked.
Railways Minister Suranjit Sengupta, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, eminent cultural activist Aly Zaker, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Food Minister Abdur Razzaque, acting Dhaka City AL President MA Aziz and General Secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya also spoke on the occasion.
BSS adds: Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday asked the opposition to return to parliament with "specific proposals" on the caretaker government issue and other demands.
Ashraf, also the LGRD minister, reminded the opposition that the Jatiya Sangsad is the only place where the constitution could be amended, if needed.
"In a democratic process, parliament is the main centre of all discussions. Raise your demands and we would cordially accept your legitimate demands," he told reporters after placing wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at 32 Dhanmondi.
Ashraf termed the president's dialogue with the political parties to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and other members of the Election Commission “a historic incident” as no government did it earlier in Bangladesh.
He hoped that BNP would join the dialogue with the president and would place their specific proposals in this regard.