Don't plot to foil polls

Coming down heavily on the BNP for attacking police and torching their vehicles, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked them not to hatch conspiracies to foil the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

"I would like to tell them that they should try to cooperate [with the Election Commission] in holding the election, not hatch conspiracies to foil the polls as they [BNP] decided to join the election," she said.

Hasina, also the AL President, made the remarks in her introductory speech at a meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Board at the party's Dhanmondi office.

She said they had conspired during the election in 2014, but could not succeed. "They won't be successful this time too as people are with us."

Hasina said people wanted the election to be held amid a festive atmosphere and to cast their votes in the election for formation of a government of their choice.

The PM said a festive mood had been created as all political parties and alliances, including Jatiya Oikyafront, had already announced to join the national election.

Talking about Wednesday's attack on police in front of BNP's Nayaplatan central office, she said, "When there's a festive atmosphere, BNP feels very unwell. They pour water on the      festivity."

Hasina said a BNP leader surprisingly brought a procession there and launched the attack that left many policemen wounded and three police vehicles torched.

She added that they had resorted to the arson attack again as they did in 2014 and 2015. "With this, it has been proved that they can't do anything other than resorting to violence and arson attack," she said.

The PM also extended her gratitude to the police for showing restraint and patience during the attack.

About the BNP leaders' remarks that Bangladesh Chhatra League activists torched the police vehicles, she questioned when and why Chhatra League activists went there. "They (BNP leaders) are masters in shifting the blame on others after resorting to such activities," she said, condemning the incident.

Additionally, she said she was optimistic that the people of Bangladesh would reelect the Awami League as her party had developed the country massively in the last 10 years.

Mentioning that the country would continue to move forward and its development would keep going on, the PM said BNP wanted to spoil the country's progress.

The AL President also criticised BNP for dropping article 7 from its charter to “pave the way for keeping corrupt persons” at the party helm. "Through dropping article 7, they've proved that killers, dacoits and corrupt elements can be the leader of their party," she said.

She urged the country's people to resist any sort of violence, arson attack and terror activities.

Terming vote as people's democratic and constitutional right, she emphasised protecting it, saying her party would stand by them to this end. "We'll always stand by people and definitely protect their rights. The democratic trend must be upheld to continue the country's development."