Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said BNP and its allies want restoration of caretaker government system not for the election, but to push the country back to darkness again.

"No one will be able to push the country back to the era of darkness," she declared.

Hasina, president of the ruling Awami League, was addressing a discussion marking the 104th birth anniversary of  Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at its Dhaka District unit office in Tejgaon.

She said that Bangladesh is the country of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib who was born to change the fate of the common people.

“And we will bring that change following his ideals,” she said.

The prime minister questioned the logic behind BNP's demand that the repealed caretaker government system is restored again to oversee national elections.

“Why do they want that? What's their expectation? In 2008 election there was a caretaker government. In that election they got only 30 seats while Awami League bagged 233 seats,” she recalled.

The prime minister said that BNP should remember that. 

She said while Awami League remains in power the poor get food and shelter. 

She said that In the country of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman no one will remain without a home, address, and land.

Tthe government is implementing programmes to reach this goal, said the PM.

“And that is the thing they can not tolerate. They do not like that the common and poor people live a good life,” she said pointing at BNP.

Hasina said that it is not possible for BNP and its allies to topple the government as the countrymen are in favour of her party.

"They are dreaming to oust Awami League from the government. How do they forget  that Awami League always stays beside the people for which they cast vote for the party time and again," she said.

The prime minister said the BNP has been arranging Iftar parties during the month of Ramadan instead of distributing iftar items among the poor people.

“And they are criticising the government and wanting election under caretaker government,” she said.

In this connection, she said that Awami League and its associate bodies and its elected representatives have been distributing iftar food among the poor across the country without holding iftar parties.

"The countrymen are supporting the Awami League as they always find it beside them at time of their needs," she said.

Hasina questioned why BNP and its allies want to oust Awami League from the government.

“What crime have we committed? Is making the Bangladesh independent a crime? Are standing beside the people or working to transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country  crimes??"

Sheikh Hasina said that BNP and its allies must point out the crime of AL for which it has to leave the power.

She said that people are always bedside the AL as they know very much they have got everything, including the country's independence and development during its regime.

PM Hasina came down heavily on BNP for raising question of not having democracy in the country asking them with what democratic process the party was formed. 

"The party was formed by a person (Ziaur Rahman) who grabbed state power illegally and no democratic process was followed," she said.

The prime minister said BNP does not understand the language of  democracy and its meaning at all.

She reiterated her vow to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and smart "Sonar Bangladesh" free from hunger and poverty by 2041 as envisioned by the father of the nation.

"We are taking oath on Bangabandhu's birthday to build Bangladesh as a developed prosperous, and smart Sonar Bangladesh by 2041," she said.

The Prime Minister asked her party leaders and activists to study the Osamapto Atmojiboni (The Unfinished Memoirs), Karagarer Rojnamcha (Prison Diary) and Amar Dekha Noyachin (The New China as I Saw) written by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the books based on the reports of Pakistani intelligence agencies to understand how much struggle had to be done by Bangabandhu for the country's liberation alongside his ideal and patrotisim.

She also asked her party members to watch biopic movie "Mujib: The Making of a Nation."

"If you want to be a politician and to be inspired with patrotism, you have to study the books (written by Bangabandhu) and Pakistani intelligence reports on Bangabandhu," she said.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Presidium Members, Deputy Leader of the House Begum Matia Chowdhury, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Advocate Qamrul Islam, Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, and Joint General Secretaries, Foreign Minister  Hasan Mahmud and Social Welfare Minister  Dipu Moni, central executive member Prof. Merina Jahan Kabita, took part in the discussion.

Ekhushey Padak winner Rupa Chakraborti recited some lines from the "Karagarer Rojnamcha" (Prison Diary) written by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman about celebration of his 47th birth anniversary and the poem "Amar Parichoy" written by poet Syed Shamsul Haque.

Dhaka South and North City AL presidents Abu Ahmed Mannfi and Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, among also spoke at the meeting.

AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and his deputy Syed Abdul Awal Shamim conducted the discussion.