Staff Reporter :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia should have apologised to the nation before placing any proposal for the reconstitution of the Election Commission.
“BNP Chairperson should first seek people’s apology for instigating mayhem through arson attacks and killing innocent people,” she told journalists at a press conference at the Ganabhaban her official residence yesterday afternoon.
Earlier she paid the four-day visit to Hungary from Nov 27-30 in conjunction with Budapest Water Summit 2016 at the invitation of Hungarian President Dr Janos Ader.
She also termed Khaleda Zia as killer, saying how and in what way talks can take place with a killer like her (Khaleda)?
“BNP men killed many people by setting fire as per the directive of its Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. So, no talk can be held with the killer,” she said.
Earlier BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia presented a 13-point proposal for the formation of a new stronger election commission to hold credible elections saying that the next Commission must be constituted based on the consensus of all political parties ahead of the 11th general election to be held in 2019.
Replying to a query, Sheikh Hasina said as BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has given her proposal to the President she should go to him (President).
“I will accept the decision whatever will be taken by the President. Besides, my party will also accept the President’s decision over the constitution of a new election commission,” she said.
“I’m telling the BNP men to remember what the party had done about formation of election commission when it was in power,” she said.
“They didn’t take part in the last general election and tried to oust the government by burning people to death in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She (Khaleda) should’ve apologised to the nation before placing any proposal,” replying to a query she said.
Replying to another question about any possibility of holding mid-term elections in the country, she said, “We are not in the mid right now. Three years have already elapsed.”
Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling Awami League said the emergency landing of a VVIP flight carrying her at Turkmenistan airport on November 27 as a technical glitch.
“There is nothing to worry about the incident. Yet, investigation has already been launched to know the cause behind technical fault. After obtaining probe report, it will be cleared as to what actually had happened,” she said.
However, Sheikh Hasina said the accident might have been occurred due to technical fault or man created.
Replying to a query she said the country where killers were rewarded and war criminals made ministers, it is very natural that there would be always a threat to life.
“But with the blessing of Aalmighty Allah I returned home. I’m doing politics in the country to establish peoples’ right amid threat to my life. And I will continue to do so until my death,” Sheikh Hasina said.
When asked about government’s move to buy an aircraft for the President and the Prime minister, Sheikh Hasina said there is no need to buy separate plain right now.
“Any scope of showing luxury of having dedicated aircraft for President and Prime Minister is yet to come here for our country. It’s not necessary. I even don’t want it. The efforts to improve the national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is aimed at serving all passengers and not ‘any specific person,” she said
Hasina said she walks with common people and she does politics taking people with her.
“If I don’t feel secure while travelling through the aircraft used by our people, what is the benefit of having separate aircraft?”
Earlier, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said an executive aircraft would be purchased for the president and the prime minister’s VVIP trips. The matter was also discussed with the finance minister AMA Muhith).
Replying to a query about the Teesta water sharing agreement with India, Sheikh Hasina said that she is hopeful
“I’m going to India, I’m not going with any condition… discussion is on for Teesta river water sharing and we’re hopeful,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and India have 54 joint rivers.
“There’s a joint river commission, they’re discussing the water sharing of these 54 rivers, not only that of the Teesta,” she said.
She mentioned that the discussion is on and it will continue.
Replying to a query about Rohingya issue, Sheikh Hasina said the world leaders should have been more vocal on Myanmar issue.
“If we want to blame, we need to think of more about those who first unleashed the situation and killed border guards police and it’s needed to identify where they’re [perpetrators] now and they should be held,” she said.
The Prime Minister said thousands of men, women and children are suffering as their [perpetrators] attacks led to the current problem.
“It’s very unfortunate that for handful of people many men, women and children are suffering. It’s the most worrying matter,” Hasina said.
She said though it is Myanmar’s internal affairs, necessary steps have been taken from the Foreign Ministry [of Bangladesh].
“Members of Border Guard Bangladesh are on high alert…the reality is that people have no option but to look for shelter once they become helpless,” Hasina said.
During her visit Bangladesh and Hungary signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to expedite cooperation in the areas of agriculture, water management as well as trade and investment.
Minister of Interior of Hungary Sandor Pinter and Bangladesh’s Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud signed the first MoU on cooperation in the filed of water management.
The second MoU was signed for consultation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Minister of State in Charge of Economic Diplomacy Levente Magyar and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque signed the instrument.
Agriculture Minister of Hungary Zsolt Nemeth and Bangladesh Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah signed the third MoU on cooperation in the area of agriculture.
Describing her recent Hungary tour as very fruitful and successful, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said it has opened up a new horizon of potentialities to elevate the bilateral relations to a new height.
The premier said the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Hungary witnessed a setback after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
“But I think my recent visit to Hungary has infused a new dynamism into the bilateral ties and opened up a new horizon of potentialities to elevate this relations to a new height,” she said.
