Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said BNP does not want an election, rather it wants someone to take over after ousting the government — who would finally put the party in power.

“They don’t want elections. They rather want something to come to power, ousting the government, which would install them in office — bringing them with ‘nagardola’ or ‘palki’. That is their expectation,” she said.

The premier was addressing a huge public rally, arranged by Chattogram City Unit of Awami League at the Polo Ground in the port city.

Sheikh Hasina, in her speech delivered from a 160ft boat-shaped stage, said BNP has two skills: vote-rigging and killing people. “They know if election is held, people would not vote for killers,” she said.

Read more: PM inaugurates, lays foundation stones of 35 projects in Chattogram

“They (BNP) don’t care about the people. If Awami League comes to power, we work for the people,” she added.

Referring to the arson attacks unleashed in 2013-2015 by BNP, the PM said one day Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman will have to answer to the people as to why they burnt and killed so many. “People will take account of it one day,” she said.

‘December 10 a favourite date for BNP’

Sheikh Hasina, also AL president, criticised BNP for choosing December 10 as the date for their final divisional rally.

She said the Pakistani forces started killing Bangalee intellectuals from December 10, 1971. But unfortunately, this date, December 10, is BNP’s favourite date. “Since they perhaps were collaborators of the Pakistani forces, they want to occupy Dhaka city on December 10 and oust the Awami League government,” she added.

Read more: PM Hasina reaches CTG’s Polo Ground to address enormous rally

“They don’t want to go to power through vote. They think they can take over like Ziaur Rahman occupied power, killing the Father of the Nation, violating the Constitution and with army rule. They don’t like democratic trends,” she said.

The PM said Bangladesh witnessed major development and continues marching forward thanks to the continuation of democratic trend.

At the function, the premier opened a total of 29 development projects and unveiled the foundation stones of six proposed development projects. The total cost of 35 projects is Tk 3,398.66 crore. Of them, Tk 1,897.61 crore was spent to implement the 29 projects, while the estimated cost of six other projects is some Tk 1501.05 crore.