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Re-elect AL to keep terrorism at bay

Hasina urges people at Dhaka rally, says BNP-Jamaat-Hefajat to turn Bangladesh into a safe haven for militants

Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the people to re-elect the Awami League for a Bangladesh free of terrorism, poverty and hunger.
She said the BNP, Jamaat and Hefajat-e Islam, if voted to power, would turn the country into a haven for militants and corruptionists.
"Killing people and patronising terrorism is their |BNP-Jamaat's| character," said Hasina, also the ruling AL president, while addressing a mammoth rally at the capital's SuhrawardyUdyan.
"I seek your votes for the continuation of the development activities of this government, " she said, adding that she was
FROM PAGE 1 committed to establishing people's democratic rights and that she was ready to die forthis.
Hasina reiterated that the verdicts in war crimes cases would be executed like that in the Bangabandhu killing case.
Dhaka city AL organised the rally to mark the National MourningDay.
MA Aziz, acting president of the party unit, presided over the rally, also addressed by AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Shahara Khatun and Mahbubul Alam Hanif, among others.
Thousands of AL leaders, workers and supporters swarmed Suhrawardy Udyan from different constituencies in the capital, chanting party slogans and carrying banners and festoons.
Due to the gathering the city suffered huge tailbacks even on the weekend. Vehicles remained stuck for hours on the major thoroughfares.
The AL chief blasted opposition leader Khaleda Zia for celebrating birthday on August 15. On this day in 1975, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were killed by a group of disgruntled army officers.
"Since 1996, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been celebrating birthday on this day ... the day I lost my father, mother, brothers and other family members. I want to ask why she does that. Is it to give me more pain?"
On the BNP's demand for the restoration of caretaker government provision, scrapped through a constitutional amendment Hasina said it had been declared void bythe High Court.
She alleged the BNP chief unleashed violence using Hefajat men at Motijheel after issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to the government on May 4 to bring back thecaretaker system.
"On her instructions, BNP-Jamaat-Hefajat men burnt hundreds of holy Quran," Hasina said, asking the audience whether any Muslim can bum the Quran. In response, the mass said, "No."
The AL president criticised the BNP for its earlier claim that 2,500 people were killed when the law enforcers flushed Hefajat men out of Motijheel Shapla Chattar in the early hours of May 6.
“They [BNP] now claim 61 people were killed in the drive. This is their another trick. |Of the 61,] three people are still alive and there is no proof of the death of 25 others."
She said BNP-Jamaat also resorted to falsehood about the changing of Gilaf of the holy Kaaba. "When they |BNP-Jamaat] can do these things, is there anything they can't do?"
Changing the Gilaf (cover) of Holy Kaaba is a traditional ceremony in Makkah. But a photo of the event was published by a pro-BNP Bangla daily saying: "The imam of the Holy Kaaba vouches for IJamaat leader and war crimes accused] Sayedee's good character.”
The prime minister said Khaleda's sons laundered huge sums after the BNP took office in 2001 and a portion of the looted money has been brought back from Singapore She alleged Khaleda wenttoSingaporetwice to save themoneybut failed.
"No government in the past could bring back money siphoned out of the country."
Highlighting development activities of her administration, Hasina said this government had constructed several flyovers to reduce traffic jam in the capital and hospitals facilitating health care for the city dwellers.
Taking a dig at her archrival, the AL chief said, "When she came out of her cantonment residence, you all saw what a luxurious lifeshe leads.”
Turning to a statement of the BNP chairperson, she said, "She had said all my hair would be blown away by the wind of the opposition movement I could not show my hair because I keep my head covered.
"I don't wear a wig that it will be blown away. All that I have is for real; there's nothing fake," she said, adding, "A person whose everything from head to toe is fake should have the fear of getting blown away. I have nothing to fear."
The PM recently said she would not budge an inch from the current constitutional provision for holding the next parliamentary polls.
Khaleda fired back saying, "You said you will not move even a hair's breadth. But such a wind will rise through people's movement that your hair will be blown away. You will not be able to control the situation and your existence will be at stake."
PHOTO ON PAGE 16