Remain alert against power grabbers: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called for staying alert to power usurpers, saying it's very unfortunate that the people have to hear sermons on democracy from the power grabbers.

"It's very unfortunate for the people of the country that they have to listen to sermons on democracy from those who captured power illegally and formed party by usurping power ... the countrymen will have to remain alert against them," she said.

The premier said after being denied of any place in the country, those elements are making complaints to the foreigners that there is no democracy in Bangladesh.

"But there will be no gain from the foul cry before the foreigners ... the trial of those who nurtured war criminals, burnt the people to death, played ducks and drakes with the lot of the people and looted public money and property must be held," she asserted.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Aawami League president, said this while delivering her introductory speech at a meeting of the AL National Committee at her official residence Gono Bhaban in Dhaka this afternoon.

The premier said the sermon of democracy is coming from those who came to power illegally and snatched the voting rights of the people.

"They patronised war criminals and Bangabandhu's killers. But we have to listen to sermon of democracy from them. What could be more regretful than this ... I don't know whether people of Bangladesh forget history," she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina posed a question as to which path of democracy they created and went to power. "They destroyed the country time and again by grabbing power and want to do it again," she said.

The premier said there is doubt about whether they can spell the word democracy and know what is called democracy. "The people of the country don't need to take lesson of democracy as they struggled and fought for democracy time and again, snatched victory and established democratic rights," she said.

As democracy exists in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said, the country's food security has been ensured, poverty rate has declined, the living standard of the people is improving and their purchasing capacity is going up.

"The country's infrastructural development is being made ... even we are constructing the Padma Bridge with our own money as democracy prevails in the country," she said.

The prime minister said these elements could only talk tall and could deliver nothing to the people. "Their only work is to embezzle orphan's money, commit corruption and siphon off money abroad," she said, adding their trial is being held and would continue.

Sheikh Hasina said the people of the country have rejected those who stole the orphan's money, burnt the people to death and laundered money abroad. "The countrymen would reject them in future also," she said.

Referring to mindless violence and rampage unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat nexus before and after the January 5 general elections in 2014 and during the first three months of 2015, the prime minister said the BNP-Jamaat terrorists burnt hundreds of people to death from children to pregnant women and torched and vandalised thousands of vehicles in the name of their so-called anti-government movement.

Sheikh Hasina said her party staged movement by involving the people and it got the results. "But the movement of the BNP was burning people to death and killing and repression. That's why they didn't get any public support, rather they earned the people's wrath," she said.

While talking about the Oct 22-23 party council, the AL chief said: "We hope that the organization would retain its tradition in the council and elect new leadership together."

Mentioning her assumption of the post of party president for 35 years from 1981, Sheikh Hasina said: "How many years more ... Let all elect new leaders together and the party move beautifully."

In this connection, the prime minister said Bangabandhu had planted the sapling which grew up to such a "mohiruha" (big tree). "I want you to plant new saplings and het organized well ... we wish it," she said.

The prime minister said the aim of her government is to ensure that not a single person remains poor and illiterate, lives without food and none dies without medicare and everyone fulfills his or her basic needs.

She said the nation that got independence through long struggles must live with self-dignity and will not depend on others and that is why her government has given highest priority to education.

Pointing out that Bangladesh set an example in poverty reduction, Sheikh Hasina said foreigners now want to know how Bangladesh achieved such successes.

She said sincerity, patriotism, efforts of the government and above all dutifulness towards the people were the main reasons for the success, not any magic.

In her speech, the premier also mentioned the just concluded visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Bangladesh and said the visit was very successful and fruitful.