Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked BNP and Jamaat to apologise to the nation for what she said killing people and resorting to arson attacks.

She also urged all parties to take part in the January 7  parliamentary election, saying that the polls door is open for all.

“Jamaat-BNP have killed people and damaged lives and properties by arson attacks. So we want them to apologize to the nation and then come to the polls.  The door of the election is open to all,” she said.

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The premier made the call while delivering her opening speech in the first meeting of Bangladesh Awami League’s Election Steering Committee at AL Dhaka district office in city’s Tejgaon area.

The chairman of AL's Election Steering Committee, Sheikh Hasina, said the election schedule has been announced. “Come  and participate in the election, go to the people and ask the people to vote for you,” she said pointing at everyone.

She thanked the Election Commission for announcing the election schedule in time following the rules without being afraid of the arson violence.

The prime minister sought cooperation from the people of the country so that now the election can be held in a fair manner on time.

She said this election is for ensuring the voting rights of the people and formation of a government of their choice. “You cast vote (in the election) with the slogan that  I will give my vote to whoever I want,” she added.

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Pointing at the youth society, Hasina said her government has made Digital Bangladesh and now everyone is getting its benefits.  Now her government is on an endeavor to make the country as Smart Bangladesh in future.  “We hope that we get their (youth folk) cooperation (to do so),” she said.

She questioned why the people will go to vote for those who killed and  plan to kill  the common people and why the people will keep trust in them.

The people don't trust them as they are identified as killers and conspirators, she added.

Noting  that election is the constitutional right of the people she said time has come for election and the people will vote.

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“If anyone has the courage, they will run the election,” she said, adding  that if they have public support, they will get it. 

Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, said the party who is elected by the people in the voting will form the government. They (BNP-Jamaat) are carrying out attacks on the people failing to keep trust in them, she added.

She said her government has been running the country with specific plans and economic policy since assuming office in 2009.

The grassroots people are at the centre of the government's development plan, she said.

“We’ve been successfully able to bring a radical change in Bangladesh in the last 15 years,” she said, adding that her government has gained public trust and confidence by serving the people since 2009.

“Since we’ve served the people and ensured their rights, today the people have trust and confidence in the Awami League and us,” she said.

Criticising the Israeli bombing on Palestine hospital killing mostly women and children, she said her government sent a good amount of medicines and other necessary items for Palestinian.

Not mentioning the name of BNP and Jamaat, she in this context blasted the parties for not protesting Israel's repression on Palestinians.

“It is unfortunate that we hear nothing from the parties which kill people resorting to arson violence in this country and grab power illegally. They say nothing,” she said.

In the politics of Bangladesh, now the extreme right and extreme left parties have joined hands to overthrow the government.

“Now it is a question who has deviated from its ideology,” she said, adding that now the extreme leftists have no ideology anymore.

“What is our fault that our government would have to be toppled,?” asked the AL chief.

Citing that BNP and its alliance have again started the arson violence, she said, “The people of this Bangladesh will never accept the playing with fire. They wanted to spoil the election. But they won’t be able to thwart this election.”

Terming BNP a headless party, she said since being convicted Khaleda Zia and Tarique Zia can’t run the election, they don’t want to join the polls either and rather want to foil the election.

Criticising the vandalism in the garment sector, s Hasina said no government other than Awami League did anything to raise the salary of garment workers in the country.

She said her government has now increased the minimum monthly wage to Tk 12,500, which is a 56 percent hike. Besides, the workers get a 5 percent increment in their salary annually.

“Even then we’ve witnessed 18-19 factories were vandalized,” she said.