Election in due time, no dialogue with killers: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reaffirmed that the next national election will be held in due time and no one can stop it.

She denounced the recent terror acts carried out by BNP-Jamaat clique in the name of movement and said that no dialogue will be held with the killers.

"No dialogue or talks will be held with the killers and the people of Bangladesh also don‍‍`t want it… the next national election will be held in due time and none can stop it," she said.

Addressing a press conference to brief the media at her official Ganabhaban residence about the outcome of her recently concluded visit to Brussels in Belgium from October 24-26 to attend Global Gateway Forum, the premier also said the next national election will be held following the same procedure the country followed during the 2018 general polls.

About the polls-time government, she the full cabinet will continue working till the next election.  

“The cabinet will do their routine work after announcement of the election schedule as per the RPO and the ministers will not be entitled to government facilities during their election campaign,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, castigated the recent terrorist activities of BNP in the name of movement, in which one police constable was brutally killed and other police personnel and 45 journalists were inhumanly tortured.

“They (BNP) also attacked the police hospital and killed people there like the Israeli (attack on Palestine),” she said, adding, “There is no difference between BNP and Israel as the brutality of the attack was the same.”

The Prime Minister said that BNP has proved again that it is a terrorist party by carrying out such large-scale terrorist activities.

She noted that the BNP doesn’t want an election, rather they want to create an unusual environment through terrorism. “They’re the terrorists,” she said, adding that they should be taught a lesson.  

About holding their trial under special tribunals, Sheikh Hasina said, "We will hold discussions to bring those engaged in such criminal acts to book within the quickest possible time."  

"They have to face the consequences of such criminal acts if they do not stop the heinous acts," she added.

She further said instruction has already been issued to arrest the culprits involved in the terror attacks.

Earlier, the Prime Minister in her written speech describes her Brussels visit as "very successful", saying, "The partnership with the European Union (EU) has reached a new height during the visit."  

She said, "A new door has opened in terms of investment in Bangladesh‍‍`s renewable energy, connectivity, education and research, digital infrastructure and medical treatment equipment manufacturing under the Global Gateway."

She took part in the plenary session of the Global Gateway Forum and urged the global leaders to stop the war and arms race and channelize the money saved from arms production for health and education of the children globally.

The Prime Minister also said that Bangladesh‍‍`s bilateral relations and the areas of cooperation with Belgium and Luxembourg will deepen and extended further.

She said Bangladesh has been assured of cooperation to continue the business facilities in the European Union during her Brussels visit.  

The Prime Minister said during her visit Bangladesh signed several agreements with European Investment Bank and European Commission under which Bangladesh will get EUR 477 as loan and grants in renewable energy and social sectors.
 

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, MP, Deputy Leader of the House Begum Matia Chowdhury, AL Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, MP, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, MP, PM‍‍`s Private Industries and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid were present on the dais.

Alongside them, Awami League Presidium Members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Kazi Zafarullah were also present there.

PM‍‍`s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim moderated the press conference.