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PM-DISCUSSION-JAIL KILLING DAY
Dialogue for free, participatory polls: PM
DHAKA, Nov 3, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said despite repeated insults to her from BNP she had agreed to sit for dialogue with leaders of that party in the greater interest of the people and holding a participatory election.
“We cannot forget the insults but we have decided to go for the talks considering our duty to hold a free and fair election,” she said at a discussion organized by Awami League at city’s Krishibid Institution marking the Jail Killing Day.
“We want to hold an election in a peaceful atmosphere so that people don’t face any trouble or incidents like arson or bomb attack. We want the people of the country to live in peace and exercise their franchise peacefully to form the government of their own choice,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said there should have no doubt that the next election would be held in a free, fair and neutral manner. Aout 6,000 polls at different levels were held in the country during the tenure of present Awami League government. “But our government never interfered to manipulate any election in our favour,” she said.
The prime minister said the Election Commission has been constituted through a ‘Search Committee’ under the guidance of the President where people belonging to all political faiths were included.
“So, there is no scope to raise any allegation of partiality against the existing Election Commission,” she said adding that her party accepted results of all elections held under existing Election Commission.
“Would it have happened if BNP had been in power? And would they have accepted the results of the city corporation elections?” the prime minister asked. “We firmly believe that people are the actual owner of votes and they would cast their votes freely according to their will,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has done huge work for the welfare of the people. “Even then,” she said, “if people don’t give mandate to her party in the next election, it would not hesitate to accept their judgment.”
On this day in 1975, the killers of Bangabandhu stormed into the Dhaka Central Jail in the early hours and assassinated the four national leaders- Tajuddin Ahmed, Syed Nazrul Islam, Captain Monsur Ali and AHM Kamaruzzaman -who led the Liberation War in the absence of Bangabandhu in 1971 and snatched the victory for the nation.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, presided over the discussion.
Advisory council members of Bangladesh Awami League Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, Presidium Members Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, who is also son of slain leader Captain Monsur Ali, and daughter of slain leader Tajuddin Ahmed, Shimin Hossain Rimi, took part in the discussion.
Presidents of Dhaka North and South city units of the party AKM Rahmatullah and Abul Hasnat also spoke on the occasion.
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