PM asks opposition to shun path of negative politics

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused opposition parties of pursuing politics of conspiracy realising that it is not possible for them to go to power "in a healthy way," reports UNB.

"They are following the path of conspiracy and negative politics to capture power as they have no confidence in people."

She asked the opposition to shun the path of conspiracy. "I hope good sense will prevail upon them (opposition) and they will return to the path of healthy and positive politics."

The prime minister was inaugurating the seventh national conference of Bangladesh Sangbadik Samity, an organisation of mufassil correspondents of different dailies and news agencies, at Engineers Institution in the city yesterday.

Hasina also called upon the people and journalists to remain alert and be vocal against what she called evil design of the opposition who are out to "create unrest to jeopardise the democratic process."

Referring to yesterday's hartal called by BNP and its allies, she said their hartal is not for people's interest, rather for protecting the killers.

Hasina said they are threatening to oust the government to protect the killers only. "The two (Khaleda and Ershad) have been united to save the killers of Bangabandhu," she said.

She said they had tried to foil the verdict of historic Bangabandhu murder case by creating unrest in the country and are now trying to block the execution of the killers.

Questioning the rationale of BNP's boycotting the President's speech in Parliament Monday, the prime minister said during BNP's time, speeches of the President were also approved by the Prime Minister's Office.

"The convention they (BNP) followed during their time has been opposed by themselves. Their boycott of Parliament contradicted their own policy. We have tried to bring them back in Parliament during the President's speech, the honourable President himself tried, but they did not join the House."

Hasina said all these proved that BNP does not believe in the parliamentary system of democracy. "BNP's constitution was not amended after the change of presidential system and there is no word of parliamentary system in their constitution."

She said the President tried to bring the opposition to Parliament yesterday (Monday) and waited for an hour but BNP did not pay any heed to the President's call.

About the four-point demand of the BNP-led opposition, the Prime Minister said the government has nothing to do with these demands.

"We cannot ask the Chief Election Commissioner to resign as he is holding a constitutional post and we have no right to recast the Election Commission also," she said.

She said the process is going on to issue voters' ID card. A project is going to be taken up as these cards can be used for multiple purpose, she added.

About the demand for the release of opposition activists, Hasina said her government did not arrest anyone on political ground, it arrested the terrorists and criminals.

Hasina said BNP has submitted a list of those arrested, but most of them were arrested during the rule of BNP on various criminal charges. "The present government has only arrested the anti-social elements."

"The judiciary is totally independent now and the law is taking its own course. If anybody is found innocent, the court will free him. The government has nothing to do with it," she contended.

Hasina said democracy was restored after a long and arduous movement, but a conspiracy is on to foil the process and destroy democracy.

The parties which captured power through illegal means used arms and terrorism to capture and consolidate power and gave arms to youths for political gains, she said.

"The Awami League has a strong organisational structure up to the grassroots level. We have policy, idealism and vision. Our politics is not dependent on terrorism or arms," she said.

She said her government ordered stern action against the terrorists irrespective of their political colour.

The premier claimed that the Awami League government has allowed the Election Commission to work freely and the by-elections held under this government were totally free and fair.

She said the people had cast their votes in a peaceful atmosphere during the rule of present government. They will continue to enjoy the same in future also.

About the issue of newsmen, Hasina urged the journalists to be objective and accurate in writing their news.