Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said BNP won’t be able to stop the next general election by resorting to violence as they had failed to foil the 2014 and 2018 polls.
“They won’t be able to stop the election in such a way (through unleashing violence). They couldn’t stop the elections in 2013 and 2018. This time too they won’t be able to do so. Inshallah, the election will be held in time,” she said.
The premier said this while addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban to speak about the outcomes of her recent visit to Belgium.
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She said those who burn buses will be identified, arrested and punished. “I think the hands they use to set a bus on fire should be burned immediately. If so, they will get a lesson or else not,” she said replying to a question from a journalist.
The PM hoped that the BNP would stop the violence. “If they don’t stop, they will face the consequences for it,” she said, adding that these things won’t be allowed to go without punishment.
In reply to another question, Sheikh Hasina said BNP has again proved that it is a terrorist party by resorting to violence on October 28 last.
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“BNP-Jamaat jote is terrorists. BNP is a terrorist party, which they proved again,” she said, adding that a Canadian court earlier called them so several times.
BNP started regaining public trust and confidence gradually as they were carrying out political programmes in healthy manners (in the recent days), she said, adding that the government didn’t hinder their programmes.
“But they would get nothing other than public indignation after the October 28 incident,” she said strongly condemning the attacks on police and journalists by BNP men on that day.
The prime minister said their (BNP) habit wouldn’t change no matter how much good behavior the government does with them.
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“I think they don’t want an election rather they want to create an abnormal situation,” she said.
Hasina, also the Awami League president, said their character is to create sufferings of the people.
“BNP is a terrorist organisation. I think now we should give the terrorists a lesson which they deserve . So, we’ll do it,” she said.
The PM returned home on October 27 last, wrapping up her three-day official visit to Belgium where she attended the "Global Gateway Forum 2023" held on October 25-26 in Brussels at the invitation of the European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen.
No dialogue with BNP: PM
In reply to a question, the prime minister ruled out dialogue with the BNP ahead of the next general election saying the people of Bangladesh don’t want it as well.
“What meeting or talks can be held with the killers who can kill the people in such a way (brutally) and destroy our all development activities,” she said when her attention was drawn that US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas urged all to sit for talks without preconditions.
“Let him (Peter Haas) have dinners and talks,” she said.
She said the people of Bangladesh won’t want dialogue with these killers as well. “Rather the people of Bangladesh now hate them, BNP and Jamaat, for their terrorist activities. They’ve lost what they earned (through peaceful programmes),” she added.
The PM said she will go for dialogue with the opposition if the US President Joe Biden does the same with former president and 2024 US presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“Is (US President) Biden holding dialogue with Mr Trump? If Biden sits with Trump for dialogue, then I will hold the dialogue (with opposition),” she said.
The prime minister criticized the international organization of journalists for remaining silent over the attack on 40-45 journalists by BNP men on October 28 last.
No change in cabinet during election: PM
About the election-time government, the prime minister said the full cabinet will do only routine works during the next election.
“We’ll follow the system that was followed in 2018,” she said, adding that the ministers will do only the routine work after the announcement of the election schedule as per the RPO.
She said the ministers can’t enjoy the government’s facilities after the announcement of the election schedule and the submission of nomination papers as per the RPO. “They will have to seek votes just as a candidate,” she said.
She said Bangladesh will follow the election-time system that is followed by Australia, Canada, India and England.
The prime minister asked the garment workers to refrain from violence while negotiation continues over re-fixing their minimum wages.
She said her government on three occasions raised the minimum wages to Tk 8,300 from only Tk 1,600 in just 14 years.
Hasina expressed dissatisfaction as the workers suddenly took to the streets and engaged in violence and arson attacks on factories when discussion continued over raising the minimum wages from the December next.
Noting that it’s very unfortunate that two lives were already lost there, she asked them to refrain from such activities as they will finally suffer due to the destruction in their workplaces.
About the price-hike of essentials, Hasina said she has already directed to take action against the commodity hoarders, not the retailers.
She said the commodity prices are raised artificially. The hoarders don’t want to reduce the prices, though the commodities start getting rotten, she added.
“So, I asked for action against the hoarders, not for going to (retail) shops. I’ve already issued this directive which is being done so that the commodities can’t be hoarded,” she added.
At the event, a video was screened on the mayhem unleashed by BNP-Jamaat on October 28 and 29 last throughout the country.