Khaleda to be put on trial for terrorism: Hasina
Accusing the opposition leader of unleashing terrorism and militancy in the country and killing people in the name of a movement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the trial of Khaleda Zia would be held one day in Bangladesh for the offences.
"We believe in justice. The opposition leader would be charged with giving orders for killing and burning people to death in the name of movement. Inshallah, her trial would be held on Bangladesh soil to this end, and we'll hold this trial," she said.
Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, was addressing a mammoth public rally at Balur Math in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur as part of her first leg of electioneering for the January 5 national election in favour of the party candidate Kazi Zafarullah.
Urging the opposition leader not to play with the fate of the country's people, the AL chief said her arch rival would have to shoulder the responsibility for the deaths of so many people.
Since her government believes in fair justice, the AL chief said, the verdict in one war crimes trial has been executed apart from the verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case, while the trial of the BDR carnage and mutiny cases have also been completed.
Mentioning that the Dhaka city dwellers did not pay heed to the opposition leader's call on May 4 to assist the Hefajat-e Islam, Hasina said that Khaleda has now called the countrymen to join the March for Democracy on December 29.
"December is our month of victory, so she (Khaleda) doesn't like this month as she had teamed up with the Jamaat-Shibir-Razakars who were the cohorts of the Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War. December 29 is the day for her defeat as on this day back in 2008' the countrymen voted for us and we've formed the government. So, she would wage a movement on this day and kill people as nowadays trees, cows and people are not spared from her destructive politics," Hasina told the rally.
Reiterating her government's stance to build the Padma bridge on its own fund, the premier said, "Inshallah, we'll be able to do that if AL remains in power. We've started the works for approach road and already have spent TK 1,500 crore for the rehabilitation in land acquisition where there was no allegation of corruption. The tender for the main bridge constructions has been floated and if you (people) voted us to power, we'll able to start the main bridge construction."
Without mentioning any name, she also reminded the local people that those for whom the question has been raised over the Padma bridge project and the image of the country got tainted - they have no right to seek votes.
Making it clear who actually constitute her family members, Hasina said apart from herself, her sister, their five children and their sons-in-law and daughters-in-law and their grandchildren, there are no Bangabandhu family members.
"So, if anyone engages in ill activities using the name of the Bangabandhu family, I'll not tolerate this. Those for whom the country’s image has got tarnished and the construction work on Padma Bridge deferred can never be our relatives. And my question is how could they amass such wealth?" she asked.
Noting whenever there is BNP-Jamaat alliance in power the darkness engulfs the country, the AL president said the BNP chairperson would not join the election as she would not be able to untie the war criminals.
"We've initiated the trial process. But, she (Khaleda) wants to protect them for which she had chosen the path of terrorism ignoring the path of election. She is now killing people, cutting trees and destroying the environment. Her activities indicate she does not want Bangladesh to exist as an independent and sovereign country."
It is mentionable that Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury (Nixon), brother of Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton, also a relative of the Bangabandhu family, has been contesting elections against Kazi Jafarullah from Faridpur-4 constituency.
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