BSS-37 PM-INTELLECTUALS DAY-2-LAST-DHAKA

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BSS-37

PM-INTELLECTUALS DAY-2-LAST-DHAKA

The prime minister said BNP had inducted many war criminals in the cabinet
to the disgrace of the whole nation. Some of those war criminals were
convicted and executed for their crimes, she said adding that the reality is
that- perhaps they (BNP) even don’t feel any shame for that.

Sheikh Hasina called upon people to identify those constituencies where
criminals were given nominations and accordingly boycott them completely.

“If the criminals are elected the country would be ruined, the country’s
image would be stained and current pace of development would be stalled,” she
said.

The Awami League president urged her party leaders and workers to go for
vigorous campaign against those criminals to let the people know about
theirmisdeeds.

Awami League leaders and workers should also make people understand that
how Bangladesh moved towards prosperity only when Awami League came to power
while other parties failed to do the same.

“Other parties excepting the Awami League never wanted Bangladesh to exist
in the world with its own dignity and keeping its head high. They killed the
intellectuals on December 14, 1971,” she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh movies ahead as Awami League remains in
power upholding the ideals war of independence.

Recalling the mayhem of BNP led political parties in 2014 in the name of
movement the prime minister said they had tried to foil the election of the
10th Jatiya Sangsad, But their all attempts went in vain as people came with
resistance. Peoples’ pressure also forced Khaleda Zia to withdraw her self-
styled blockade across the country to topple the Awami League government in
2015, she said.

Highlighting her repeated strides to come to a solution with Khaleda Zia
on political issue in 2014 and 2015, the prime minister said her government
always tried to extend cooperation with political opponents to resolve all
problems peacefully.

In this regard she said her government didn’t lodge any case against
Khaleda Zia. Now, Khaleda Zia in serving in the jail in the corruption case
filed by the caretaker government in 2007, she said.

“If we would have wanted to file any political case against Khaleda Zia we
could have done it in 2014 and 2015,” she said.

Now Canada Police and FBI of USA are also ready to submit their depositions
in many corruption charges against Khaleda Zia, she added.

Criticizing Dr Kamal Hossain and others for forging electoral alliance with
the persons with criminal records the prime minister said she held talks with
them for peace and to hold the election in a decent atmosphere and allow
people to elect their genuine representatives.

“The dialogue helped bringing them to election. But, at that same time the
nation never expected the war criminals’ successors and followers, corrupt
persons and perpetrators of the August 21 grenade attack to be nominated in
the poll,” she said.

“I wondered, were there no competent candidates in BNP other than the
persons with criminal records?” Sheikh Hasina asked saying criminal records
might be the foremost requisite to win the BNP ticket in polls.

BSS/AKH/KU/2045 HRS