Stop violence or face people's wrath
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked all to identify bomb attackers, conspirators and those involved in violence, and hand them over to police.
Terming her archrival Khaleda Zia the queen of militancy and terrorism, Hasina said, “Please stop violence in the name of blockade. Otherwise, you [Khaleda] will face dire consequences if people get angry.”
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Hasina, president of the ruling Awami League, was speaking at an AL rally organised to mark Bangabandhu's homecoming.
Addressing the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam asked party men to be prepared to face any situation.
Terming the BNP an “evil” political party, he said it could create chaos any time.
The rally was scheduled for January 10 but was deferred by two days because of Biswa Ijtema.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police lifted the ban on political activities yesterday morning, making it possible for the ruling party to hold the rally.
A huge number of law enforcers cordoned off the venue, and frisked each and everyone at the entrance.
The PM said her government would do everything necessary to protect people's lives and properties.
"Nothing can prevent the government from taking steps to stop violence. We cannot let her [Khaleda Zia] do whatever she wants. There is a limit to tolerance," she said.
Hasina also called upon people to resist violence and terrorist activities.
On the BNP chairperson's confinement, the PM said Khaleda is free to return home from office any time.
"Khaleda is not confined … rather she has held people hostage in the name of blockade. Nobody will stop her if she wishes to go back home," said the AL chief.
Hasina slammed BNP chairperson's elder son Tarique Rahman for defaming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She termed Tarique a kulangar (black sheep), and said, “Like mother, like son.”
"Khaleda went mad when the trial of war criminals started." The trial will continue and none will be able to hinder it, she said.
It was a wrong political decision on Khaleda's part to boycott the January 5 national polls, and she as well as her party would have to pay for the mistake, said the PM.
“Why people would have to pay for Khaleda's mistake?”
Hasina said her government completed one year yesterday and is heading towards the right direction.
AL spokesman Syed Ashraf said the next parliamentary polls would be held with Sheikh Hasina at the helm, and BNP's existence would be at stake if it boycotts that election.
AL presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury presided over the rally.
It was addressed by, among others, AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury, Mohammad Nasim, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mahabubul Alam Hanif, MA Aziz and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya.
They criticised Khaleda and her son Tarique. Some of them demanded that Tarique be brought back and put on trial.
Ruling party leaders, activists and supporters started pouring into the venue around 12:30pm, defying the ongoing blockade by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
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