Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said sensing their inevitable defeat in the election, the Oikyafront has started flexing muscle across the country killing five AL leaders and activists and leaving over 400 injured.
“They (Oikyafront) know they won’t be able to win the election because the people of Bangladesh will never vote for terrorists, militants, corrupts, money launderers, plunderers of orphans’ money. So, they’ve started flexing muscle,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing an election rally of Kusthia through videoconferencing from her Shuda Sadan residence in the capital. Hasina said Awami League wants that there should be a peaceful environment in the country and the election will be held in a credible manner. “People are the owners of their votes and the country. They’ll choose the government of their choice in the election,” she said. The AL chief said if the party leaders and activists remained together then no one will be able to defeat it in the election.
“A peaceful situation must be maintained… the opposition parties are contesting the election from Oikyafront, the peaceful environment has to be ensured so that they could conduct their election campaigns,” she said. Hasina said the Oikyafront might go for terrorism as this is their character, but Awami League will never do that. She mentioned that the Oikyafront activists so far killed five and injured 401 Awami League leaders and activists in various parts of the country. “The BNP-Jamaat alliance carried out bomb attacks and arson attacks in 88 constituencies of 51 districts…they’re doing that as it’s their character,” she said.
Hasina said, the BNP-Jamaat alliance wants to do what they had done after the 2001 election. “They want to repress people and unleash their reign of terror like what they had done in 2001.”
The Prime Minister urged the people of the country to utilise their scope to cast their votes in the election for the continuation of democracy. “Please, cast your votes in the coming election and make the candidates of your choice victorious,” she said. Coming down heavily on Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain for his recent harsh attitude towards the Election Commission, the AL leader said nobody is spared of his rude behaviour.
“He was engaged in quarrel at the EC, he hurled harsh words at the police force… he is the leader of the Oikyafront, the internationally reputed lawyer,’ she said. Hasina recalled that Dr Kamal Hossain uttered very much unpleasant words against the Attorney General in the High Court in the recent past.
“Now he used bad words with the police force. Before that he did the same thing with journalists …he threatened a journalist… all this proves how ugly the attitude of the Oikyafront leaders and activists and how much they are expert in terrorist acts,” she said. While talking to the people of Naogaon, Hasina said it was very much regretful that BNP is participating in the election taking the war criminals with them.
“Those who didn’t want the Liberation War and those who acted against the independence of the country are the companions of BNP, and Dr Kamal Hossain is leading them.” She asked all the AL leaders and workers to have patience and move forward maintaining their own security and safety. Hasina urged all to remain alert so that the corrupt, plunderers of orphans’ money, killers, convicted criminals of August 21, arms smuggling and the anti-independence force cannot come to power again to play with the fate of the mass people. The Awami League President urged the leaders and workers of the party and Grand Alliance to work together and seek votes for ensuring the victory of Boat.
