PM wonders about BNP's plan to grab power again

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed wonder as to how the BNP has a dream of coming to the power again as she referred to 2008 general election which was accepted by all and the BNP-Jamaat alliance had got only 30 seats.

"How BNP dreams of going to the power again with the people's vote?" she said while presiding over a meeting of the Awami League Working Committee (ALWC) in her official Ganabhaban residence on Thursday evening, reports BSS.

Hasina, and Awami League president, said the 2008 general election was held in a credible and fair manner and none could raise any question about the election.

She said the AL led grand alliance had achieved landslide victory in the election while BNP led alliance only got 30 seats.

"Is BNP doing anything better for the country and its people through which they will build confidence and trust of the people for them which move them to send the party power again?" she posed a question.

She said since its inception BNP has been playing ducks and drakes with the people's voting rights, referring to Ziaur Rahman's farcical yes/no vote and parliamentary election to hang on to the power which he grabbed illegally after violating the country's constitution.

Sheikh Hasina said Ziaur Rahman's wife Khaleda Zia had also held farcical election on February 15 in 1996 in which no political party took part in the polls.

The people of the country toppled the BNP government through movement with one and a half month of the election as the people of the country never accepted vote rigging, she said.

She also added that there was an attempt to hold a general election in 2006 with a voter list of having 1.23 crore fake voters which was cancelled.

But, the Awami League always comes to the power with the people's mandate, she said.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Kazia Zafarullah were present on the dais.

The ALWC meeting was held as part of the preparation to hold 22nd tripartite national council of the party at the historic Suhrawardi Udyan in the capital city on December 24 next.

Members of the ALWC joined the meeting.

At the outset of the meeting, the Prime Minister introduced the newly elected leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo Mohila League.

Earlier in the day, the newly elected leaders of the two organisations greeted the Prime Minister with presenting flower of bouquets at the Ganabhaban.