& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Life, property to be saved at any cost

PM tells post-polls press meet, urges Khaleda to shun 'violence', cut ties with Jamaat, sit for talks

Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she had ordered the law enforcement agencies, the army and the administration to combat post-polls violence and criminal activities, and protect people's lives and property at any cost.
"The government's first job is to save lives and properties of people, main- tain peace and stability and prevent post-election violence at any cost," she said at a crowded press conference at the Gono Bhaban yesterday.
Hasina, who is president of the Awami League, claimed that Sunday’s parliamentary election was peaceful and said she was satisfied with the voter turnout. She thanked the voters for exercising their franchise despite threats and obstructions by opposition men.
The PM called upon BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to shun violence, sever ties with the Jamaat and war criminals, and sit for talks.
She said a consensus could be reached through dialogue over the next election and all quarters must show patience and stop political violence for that to happen.
It may be mentioned that the 10th parliamentary election, boycotted by the main opposition BNP, was the bloodiest election in the country's history with the deaths of at least 18 people.
The AL won more than three-fourths of the parliamentary seats in the election that saw a low voter turnout. A total of 153 candidates, including 127 from the AL, had earlier been elected uncontested weeks before the polls.
The prime minister urged the international community to extend its support for continuing the democratic and constitutional process as well as maintaining peace and stability in Bangladesh.
She also reiterated her strong stance against terrorism, religious fundamentalism and corruption.
"The war crimes trial will continue and the verdicts in the trial will be executed," she said.
Hasina said strong measures would be taken to save trade and business from political violence and bring back normalcy to public life.
She thanked voters for what she said casting ballots through braving the opposition's obstructions. "This election marks a victory for democracy and defeat for the anti-liberation and anti-democratic forces."
The AL chief said those who believe in terrorism and violence, not in democracy, had boycotted the polls.
"The opposition, by all means, tried to prevent people from going to the polling centres. They enforced blockades and hartals, bombed and attacked people and voting stations. Despite all these, people turned up at the centres and cast their ballots."
"In some places, the BNP-Jamaat men made sudden attacks and set fire to schools. We have taken note of these incidents with utmost seriousness. None [of the culprits) will be spared. Tough action will be taken against them."
Hasina said compensation would be given to the families of the law enforcers who were killed orwounded at the hands of opposition men.
The PM answered at least a dozen questions from reporters.
On the polls, she said voting took place
peacefully at 18,000 centres across the country and a few isolated incidents happened after the opposition made threats through "a Laden-style video message."
"I don't think that there can be any complaints over the polls."
Bangladesh was moving forward and progress would continue if stability could be maintained in the country, she said.
Asked whether there was any possibility of international sanctions following the onesided polls, Hasina said, "Why sanctions? What has Bangladesh done that it will have to face sanctions?"
"Those who don't believe in democracy and the spirit of the Liberation War might work for having sanctions slapped on Bangladesh. But they won't succeed since people are with us," she said.
About media reports on corruption by ministers, lawmakers and AL leaders in the last five years, Hasina said action would be taken against whoever was found guilty of indulging in corruption.
The PM said she had never protected any corrupt person in her party. "If there is an unusual rise in wealth, the independent ACC [the Anti-Corruption Commission] will look into it and take action."
Asked whether the government would ban the Jamaat from politics for its recent activities, Hasina said a writ petition on the issue was pending with the High Court, and she didn't want to comment until the court decided on it.
Replying to another query, Hasina said she was ready to sit for a dialogue with anyone in the interest of the country.
Noting that people were not observing the opposition's shutdowns, Hasina said hartals, acts of violence and killings must be put to a stop.
About the formation of a new cabinet, the PM said she would decide on it after talking to her party's allies.
Acknowledging the opposition's role in parliament, Hasina said she would have no objection to forming an all-party government to run the country.
AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, party leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and Obaidul Quader were also present.
Later, leaders of the AL and its associate bodies and the newly-elected lawmakers sat with the PM and discussed the current political situation. They congratulated her on the holding of the crucial election despite immense pressure at home and abroad.