Tarique tried to block Tulip’s win in UK polls: PM

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UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday accused BNP senior vice president Tarique Rahman of trying his best to block Tulip Siddiq’s victory in the UK polls.
“You know, Khaleda Zia’s son (Tarique Rahman) taking political asylum (in the UK) tried his best to block Tulip’s win (in UK elections),” she said.
The Prime Minister was speaking at a general discussion on thanksgiving motion on three Bangladesh-origin women-Rushanara Ali, Rupa Huq and Tulip Siddiq-for being elected as members of the British House of Commons.
Awami League MP Dr Dipu Moni moved the proposal in the House. A total of 22 MPs took part in the discussion. Sheikh Hasina alleged that BNP senior vice president Tarique Rahman attacked the voters there by sending his cohorts. “There was various types of negative propaganda, various negative talks, and many things were carried out just to block her (Tulip) win,” she said.
Hasina bemoaned that when a Bangladeshi girl is contesting the British polls at that time this bad element (Tarique) committed this heinous job. “They actually don’t believe in independent Bangladesh,” she said.
The Prime Minister, however, said Tulip won the election defying hundreds of hurdles.
Three British-Bangladeshis-including Rushanara Ali, Rupa Huq Tulip Siddiq, granddaughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman-have made it to the House of Commons in the UK general election with Labour Party tickets.
This is the first time the centuries-old British parliament will have three lawmakers with roots in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina thanked the people who voted her, worked for her and stood beside her with their support in the election and the people of Bangladesh for their continuous support to her.
Talking about Tulip’s dedication towards the people of her constituency, Hasina said she saw Tulip working hard for her constituency and its people.
She also praised the maiden speech of Tulip in the House of Commons saying it was very spontaneous. “We all felt very much proud for her speech as she placed everything so nicely.”
The Prime Minister along with some other family members witnessed the maiden speech in the House of Commons.
She said, Tulip became the British MP as Sheikh Rehana stayed there taking asylum after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Recalling those miserable days, the emotion-choked Prime Minister said Rehana was totally alone in Britain at that time.
“My father’s Principal Secretary Ruhul Quddus was there. Jahurul Islam and Saiful Islam were also there and stood beside her along with many other Bangladeshis,” she said.
Hasina also alleged that some other people were there who did not bother to take care of her. “The then Foreign Minister and many others were there, but they didn’t inquire about her.”
The Prime Minister also said Rehana, her younger sister, was all alone during her marriage ceremony. “It was difficult for me to go to London with my two kids to attend the ceremony from Delhi,” she said.
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