Shawdesh dEsk:

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday slammed Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for its continuous efforts to make elections questionable and controversial as she said top leaders of the party are not be able to contest the polls due to their conviction.

“How a party will win the polls? Where is their leadership? One person is accused of embezzling  money meant for orphans while another one is fugitive and sentenced to life term in jail in grenade attack case. Why people will cast votes for the party,” she told reporters at a virtual briefing, joining from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, said what people got from the BNP, which had turned the country into champion of corruption for five times in a row and a safe heaven for acts of militancy.

“Who will cast votes for that party? BNP knows it very well that they do not have any possibility of winning the polls. That’s why they are trying to make election controversial,” she said, adding that for which reason people will vote for them.

Mentioning that BNP has lost its confidence in contesting the elections, Sheikh Hasina said BNP’s target is to make the polls questionable or destroy the continuation of democracy as it sensed that BNP doesn’t have any hope.

The premier said people experienced a number of polls even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Voters cast votes in the polls spontaneously but efforts have been made to make the polls questionable,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said violent acts, including arson attacks, had been carried out to foil the polls.

“But the elections were held. You had experienced development as the atmosphere remained calm after the polls,” she said.

Urging people to make a comparison between the tenure of BNP and the AL, Sheikh Hasina said the country got recognition of developing country status during the AL government.

“It is my dream that no one will remain homeless, live without food, electricity and education,” she said.

Responding to a question on the formation of the next Election Commission, the premier said the President would form a search committee to reform the next Election Commission.

The tenure of the incumbent Election Commission, which will oversee the next general polls, will expire in February, 2022.

“The President will form a search committee for the formation of new Election Commission,” she said.

Over the recent e-commerce scams, the premier warned of taking action against those culprits who have been involved in making money through cheating.

“A group of people take advantage of people’s tough time to make money. They must be brought to book,” the premier added.

“We are not sitting idle as culprits have already been arrested. We will find out where they have deposited the money,’ she said.

The premier said the indiscriminate killing of armed forces officers during dictatorship of Ziaur Rahman, should be investigated.

“Nearly 2000 armed force officers were killed. As the demand investigation into the killing has been raised, I think a step should be taken in this regard. That’s public opinion should also be drummed up,” she said.

Replying to a question as to what action will be taken against Gazipur city mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam for making comment on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the number of martyred in the War of Liberation in 1971, the premier said a show-cause notice had been served and the party would take decision on it.

“In the era of digitization, I don’t know how it happens. However, the party will take decision at its next meeting,” she said.

Responding to another question on coronavirus jabs, the premier said Bangladesh had the capacity to produce vaccine.

“We have received response from world communities and have taken all sorts of preparations in this regard. Hopefully, we will go for the production soon,” she said.

Over recent changeover of power in Afghanistan, the premier said there was nothing to be worried over the rise of Taliban in Afghanistan.

“There is nothing to be worried. At a time when Taliban was emerging, many have received training from Afghanistan to spread militancy in the country. To this effect, awareness has to be created among the people,” she said adding, “We are ready to face such challenges. We have to remain vigilant so that   change of power in this SAARC country does not affect Bangladesh.”