Fakhrul slates PM's comments on critics

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday lambasted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for terming the people, who did not support the January 5 polls, "childish".

"The whole world including the EU and the USA did not accept the January 5 polls. They still remain on the same position. Around 90 percent people of the country have also rejected it. But according to her [Hasina] comment, everyone at home and abroad is childish," said Fakhrul at a discussion of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

Hasina on Sunday in parliament said the people who had rejected the January 5 polls were childish.

Quoting HT Imam, Fakhrul said the adviser to the premier had claimed some print and electronic media had portrayed his partial speech and altered the moral of his statement.

"The adviser thought people were fool; they would not understand anything. But in this age people easily understand everything," said the BNP leader.

Fakhrul, also the spokesperson of the party, said Imam had revealed the truth of the "conspiracy" behind the January 5 polls.

Four days after assuring Bangladesh Chhatra League activists of helping them in the viva voce of Bangladesh Civil Service entry level exams and saying that ruling Awami League had benefited from party activists during the polls, Imam came up with his explanation at a press conference yesterday.

Threatening the government, Fakhrul at the discussion said the "autocratic mood" of the government would not bring any good to the ruling party, which would be responsible for every consequence.

BNP Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed at a press briefing at party headquarters has meanwhile said, "BAKSAL failed in 1975 and the same thing will happen to the second BAKSAL."

Quoting Imam, he said Hasina had faith on her adviser, adding, it was obvious that the premier had to keep faith on them, with whom she led the "misdeeds".