The president will make the decision
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she has little interest in Khaleda Zia's proposals for the Election Commission's reconstitution and that the BNP chief should have apologised to the nation before coming up with the proposals.
“They didn't take part in the [last general] election … they tried to oust the government by burning people to death in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She should've apologised to the nation before placing any proposal,” she told a press conference at the Gono Bhaban on the occasion of her just-concluded Hungary and Morocco visits.
The prime minister said, “She [Khaleda] has made her proposal; now she can tell the president about it, and he'll make the decision … we've nothing to say ….”
She added that according to the rules, the president would consider their proposal.
Hasina, however, said there was nothing important in Khaleda's proposals.
She said the EC was constituted in 2008 by the then president in line with the BNP's demand, while the current commission was also constituted by the president through a search committee.
“The same procedure is being followed this time. Here the government has nothing to do in the process ... I don't know whether her [Khaleda's] proposals contain any substance at all.”
She said Khaleda first had made the decision to stay away from the election, then she waged a violent nationwide campaign to unseat the government and now she came up with the proposals. “She didn't participate in the election … being a leader of the party she refrained from the election by making a wrong decision.”
The prime minister said BNP leaders also should recall their “ploy to manipulate polls when they were in power”.
Recalling the days when BNP and its allies waged a movement, Hasina said, “Let's count carefully how many people she killed.”
Talking about the incidents after the death of Khaleda Zia's son Arafat Rahman Koko, the prime minister said, “I went there to console her, but I was not allowed to enter her home. Both the doors of her home were shut. What an audacity!”
Hasina said she has no interest in the proposals placed by such people.
She also mentioned that BNP was still in a dilemma whether to participate in the election. “Today, they'll participate in one election and boycott another tomorrow ... they have no consistency in their decisions.”
NO SPECIAL AIRCRAFT
The prime minister ruled out the possibility of procuring any special aircraft for her safer journeys, saying there is no scope in Bangladesh to go for such luxury at this moment.
“Any scope of showing luxury of having dedicated aircraft for the president and the prime minister is yet to come here for our country. It's not necessary. I myself even don't want it.”
Hasina said she walks with common people and she does politics taking people with her. “If I don't feel secure while travelling on the aircraft used by our people, what is the benefit of having separate aircraft?”
A VVIP Biman aircraft carrying the PM to Hungary had developed a technical glitch and made an emergency landing in Turkmenistan, raising concern over her personal security.
Following the incident, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said the government would procure an executive aircraft for the travel of the president and the prime minister.
Describing the emergency landing as an accident due to a technical glitch, Hasina said, "There could be an accident any time, this is not a matter. There might be some technical glitches, probe committees have been formed and they'll investigate it.”
Referring to the Colombia plane crash in which Brazilian football players were killed, she said, “An accident may take place any time ... accident is accident.”
Replying to another question about airport security, the PM said the government has taken appropriate measures following complaints by two countries over the matter.
ROHINGYA CRISIS
Hasina said the world leaders should have been more vocal on Myanmar issue, on identifying the handful of October 9 perpetrators that led to the sufferings of thousands of men, women and children along the border.
“If we want to blame, we need to think of more about those who triggered it and killed border guard police, and it's needed to identify where they're [perpetrators] now and they should be held,” she said, referring to those who killed nine border guards in Myanmar's Rakhine state on October 9.
Hasina said thousands of people are now suffering as the attacks by the perpetrators led to the current situation. “It's very unfortunate that for a handful of people, many men, women and children are suffering. It's the most worrying matter.”
Bangladesh's intelligence has already been informed and Bangladesh will not give them shelter, she said, adding, “Instead, they'll be caught, if found, and be handed over to Myanmar authorities.”
Though it is Myanmar's internal affairs, she said, necessary steps have been taken by the foreign ministry. “Members of Border Guard Bangladesh are on high alert … the reality is that people have no option but to look for shelter once they become helpless.”
TEESTA TREATY
Hasina said she was still hopeful about the Teesta water-sharing agreement with India.
"I'm going to India, I'm not going with any condition … discussion is on for Teesta river water sharing and we're hopeful."
HUNGARY TOUR
The PM said her recent visit to Hungary has infused new dynamism in the stagnant bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Hungary and opened up a new horizon of potentials to elevate the existing relations to a new height.
She said through her participation in Budapest Water Summit and Marrakech Climate conference, Bangladesh has been able to highlight its strong leadership in the international arena on water management as well as the country's firm resolve to face climate change.
About the talks with the Hungarian prime minister, she said they held discussions on various bilateral, regional and international issues, including water resources management, trade and commerce, agriculture and education.
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