No world leaders questioned: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said no world leaders questioned the January 5 election, which the BNP and most other political parties boycotted.

“Rather, everyone congratulated me on my being reelected and appreciated the efforts for taking the country forward,” she told a media briefing at the Gono Bhaban.

Hasina said those criticising the polls were actually demonstrating their myopia.

“Representatives of some countries are speaking against the election. But when I met the heads of different states and governments and the chancellor of a country, none of them raised any question about the election,” she said at the briefing on the outcome of her attending the        10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Italy.

The PM said the election of Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP as presidents of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union respectively proved there was no question about the January polls.

Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, warned of dire consequences if the BNP resorted to violence and tried to kill people in          the name of anti-government agitation.

“You have to understand this is an elected government, not an interim one. They [BNP] cannot do what they did before the January 5 election and will face consequences if they touch people of my country now,” she said.

The premier called upon people to resist anyone trying to create anarchy and disrupt peace and economic development. “We are with you. I can assure the people that they [BNP] will not be able to unleash such destructive activities now.”

On BNP's threat of waging a movement, Hasina said she heard about such movements many times in the past. “Whenever the date for Khaleda Zia's appearance in court nears, she starts issuing threats.”

Replying to a question, she said the hartal called (for Sunday) by some Islamist parties might be linked with Khaleda's court appearance, as she indulged in corruption and is afraid to face court.

“Election will take place in time and people's confidence [in the AL] will be evaluated then,” she said when a journalist drew her attention to the BNP chairperson's statement that the government should hold polls to test its popularity.

“We have won elections of the international bodies. Those who voted our candidates are parliamentarians and she [Khaleda] should learn a lesson from this,” Hasina said.

The PM termed late president Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda killers, and ruled out any possibility of dialogues with the BNP over its demand for holding general            elections.

She said Zia was involved in the murder of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975, and Khaleda was involved in the August 21, 2004, grenade attacks while their son Tarique Rahman was following their footsteps.

Zia and Khaleda also rewarded killers, Hasina added.

“They tried to kill me....they         do not believe in the sovereignty of the country but you are telling me           to sit with them,” she said, responding to a question about talks with the  BNP.

“Why do you ask me again and again to sit with the people who wanted to kill me? If anyone of your family is killed, will you hold       discussions with the killers or seek justice?

“You cannot tell me to sit for a dialogue when you are demanding trial of war criminals and              elimination of extremism from the country.”

She claimed that the country's media were enjoying total freedom. “The media in no other country enjoy this much freedom.”

The premier also criticised the Islamist parties for calling a shutdown demanding the arrest of former posts and telecommunications minister Latif Siddique.

She rejected allegations by the Islamist parities that no action was taken against Latif.

“We have acted instantly. We have removed him from the cabinet. We have suspended him from the party.

“How can we arrest him when he is not in the country? So, there is no logic for calling a hartal demanding his arrest.”

Turning to the issues of terrorism and militancy, Hasina said it was a global problem now. Still, Bangladesh has been successful in dealing with the threat.

 “We are alert and are taking instant steps for combating the menace,” she said.

On alleged involvement of Bangladeshi militants in the recent explosion in West Bengal, the PM said Jamaat had links with it.

At the briefing, the PM also highlighted various achievements and development activities of her government.

About the ASEM conference, Hasina said she spoke about climate change and extremism in the conference. “I told the world leaders that Bangladesh will never support extremism and allow its land to use for           terrorist activities against other countries.”

She said she also called on them not to sell weapons to extremist organisations so that extremism could not spread.

“I thanked the Italian prime  minister for creating job opportunity for 1.5 lakh Bangladeshis,” said the PM.