Fakhrul slams Hasina's remarks on next polls

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's comment that people will not let BNP come to power in the next general election is “lamentable” and “harmful” for democracy, BNP Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said yesterday.

“The prime minister in her speech said the Awami League will come to power in the next election. She has called upon people so that BNP cannot come to power,” he said.

Hasina, delivering her introductory speech on Sunday, the second day of the 20th Awami League council, asked AL men to stay alert so that BNP-Jamaat, which “embezzled public money”, cannot come to power.

She also asked the AL leaders and workers to take all out preparations for the next general elections for a third consecutive win.  “I want our party to win the polls and serve the people of Bangladesh again,” she said.

Addressing a programme in the capital's Dhaka Reporters Unity marking the 15th death anniversary of BNP leader Akhtar Ahmed Siddique, Fakhrul said it was clear from the prime minister's speech what their plan was regarding the next polls.

He said the prime minister stated in front of foreign delegates that her party had saved democracy and would work so that it flourishes, something not matching with what she stated on Sunday.