PM warns against plot to create chaos

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last night said conspiracies are being hatched to destabilise the country and those involved in this evil design will have to face tough consequences.

Even BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would be put behind bars if she is found involved in creating chaos, the PM told a joint meeting of the Awami League advisory council and its central working committee at Gono Bhaban, meeting sources said.

She accused BNP of making ill efforts to reestablish militancy and terrorism in the society. She expressed her firm resolve to take the country further ahead by overcoming various obstacles.

“They [BNP-Jamaat coalition] created anarchy in the name of waging a movement. They killed people through arson attacks, alighting buses and also burnt the holy Quran,” mentioned Hasina. 

The government, she said, has set a target to take the country to the middle income group by 2021.

Speaking at the meeting, some AL leaders accused party ministers of not maintaining relations with the grassroots. They suggested the ministers keep close ties with party rank and file to strengthen the organisation.

Some leaders blasted former planning minister Air Vice-Marshal (retd) AK Khandker for his recent book “1971: Bhetore Baire” saying that he wrote it only after failing to become an MP and a minister.

Also the AL president, Hasina told her party colleagues that she was not interested to induct Khandker into her cabinet (2009-2013), but did so under pressure from the Sector Commanders Forum.

The PM blasted the BNP for calling a hartal for tomorrow and questioned the grounds of this shutdown. She said the nation cannot pay for BNP's fault. 

She warned that if anyone tries to create anarchy, the law will take its own course, no matter how powerful he/she might be.

The AL chief stressed the need for strengthening the party and asked the party leaders to complete the long-overdue councils at the grassroots.

Abdul Latif Siddique, AL presidium member, lambasted party senior leaders Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed for their roles during the political changeover in 2007.

Some leaders, he said, always create crisis for the organisation as they sometimes challenge the party supremo.

Criticising the BNP for calling a hartal, Tofail Ahmed said hajj flights are being operated now and people are busy with preparations for the ensuing Eid-ul-Azha and thus the shutdown will create sufferings for the Muslims.

Khalid Mahamud Chowdhury, organising secretary of AL, said some BNP leaders are now communicating with us to join the Awami League as they realised that their top leader committed a mistake by not contesting the January 5 election. AL leaders Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Abdur Razzak backed Khalid's claim.

The meeting formed 10 committees to monitor the AL's organisational activities in seven divisions. The last meeting of the party's advisory council was held on August 17 last year.