Hasina doubts fate of polls, democracy
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, now detained and facing an extortion case, has expressed doubt about the fate of election and democracy in the country.
Hasina, who appeared before the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court yesterday morning, made her observations during consultations with her counsel after the court hour.
“There may be an election in name only. As a result, a government may be formed. But what is next? Everything has a limit,” she was quoted by her counsel as saying.
About the extortion case she is facing, Hasina told her lawyers: “I know the result of this case is decided. It will be of no use making arguments and counter arguments in this case.”
She said that cases are being filed for debarring her from contesting the election and eliminating her from politics.
Hasina also alleged that conspiracy has been on for long to belittle the survivors of the August 15 (1975) massacre.
“The scheme is designed in such a way if I myself is debarred from politics, no member of the Sheikh Mujib family could join active politics,” she said, referring to making her younger sister Sheikh Rehana an accused in the extortion case.
The ex-PM apprehended that if such cases continue foreign investors would not come to this country for investment.
She said if foreign investors come to Bangladesh, this government would “either brand them thieves or put them to torture in police custody to drive away the investors.”
The AL president was also critical of the government for not fulfilling its commitment to free the detained teachers of Dhaka University, who were arrested in connection with the August 20-22 student unrest case.
Hasina asked her counsel to find out detailed information about those under whose behest Azam J Chowdhury and Tajul Islam filed the extortion cases against her.
Meanwhile, Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman, emerging from the court, told the media men that Hasina's movement inside the sub-jail has been restricted without assigning any reason. As a result, she is virtually in solitary confinement now, he alleged.
Comments