BNP has no right to do politics as it burns, kills people: PM

Denouncing the BNP as a terrorist party, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Friday (29 December) said it has no right to do politics in Bangladesh.

"BNP has no right to do politics in Bangladesh because they burn and kill people," she said while addressing a campaign rally at Bangabandhu Udyan in Barishal city.

Her younger sister Sheikh Rehana was seated on the boat-shaped dais as she spoke to the cheering crowd.

From the stage the daughters of Bangabandhu waved national flags to the cheering people.

Saying the AL will strive to build a better future for the youth Hasina appealed to the first-time voters to cast their ballots for her party's boat symbol.

"Vote for the boat symbol," she said. "Don't waste your ballots."

She said the politics of the AL is only for the welfare of the people.

But the politics of the BNP and Jamaat is to burn people, she said, asking, "Do people want them? No, people do not want them.

"While we develop the country for the people, BNP-Jamaat unleash arson attacks."

In this connection, she mentioned recent arson attacks on trains killing a number of people, including a woman holding her baby.

She also recalled BNP-Jamaat's arson terrorism in 2001, saying they did the same in 2013 and 2014. "Now they have started the same arson terrorism right now."

"I condemn these acts of BNP-Jamaat," she said.

The PM said Jamaat, which is the ally of the BNP, was involved in 1971 genocide, looting, rape, torture of people. They shook hands with Pakistani occupation forces.

Some of their leaders had been convicted as war criminals and hanged for crimes against humanity.

"One party is a terrorist, killer, ten-truck arms smuggler, involved in money laundering, syphoning orphans' money, and all types of misdeeds. And the other one is of war criminals," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the BNP and Jamaat do not want elections.

"They want to foil it, let me urge you that all of you will go to the polling centres early in the morning of 7 January.  What will be your symbol? It will be the boat," she said.

Seeking votes for the boat, the election symbol of Awami League, to the people to serve them once again, Hasina reminded the audience how the boat of Prophet Nuh saved the human race during the Great Flood.

She added that Bangladesh got independence as people voted for the boat in 1970.

The crowd raised their hands when the AL chief asked them, "Will you cast your votes for the boat? Promise me. Please raise your hands."

Chants for the boat reverberated through the rally at this time.

Sheikh Hasina introduced the candidates of the Awami League and the 14-party alliance it is backing in Barishal division.

The prime minister said, as the AL government came to power repeatedly, democratic process continued in the country for 15 years marked by development.

She mentioned that during the regimes of Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia Bangladesh did not witness any development at all.

"Rather the country went in a reversed direction," she said.

She said when the Awami League comes to power Bangladesh moves forward with unbeatable speed. "This unstoppable advancement has to be maintained."

She said the Awami League believes in the power of the youths.

Mentioning that Awami League was in power for the last 15 years, Sheikh Hasina told the people that they have witnessed a changed Bangladesh.

She said her government will bring gas to Barishal for massive industrialisation for the development of this area.

The AL has a plan to restore Barishal as the granary of Bangla, which was once known as "Agricultural Manchester," she added.

Hasina said they will establish a medical university in Barishal like other divisional headquarters in the country.

If returned to office, her government will also construct a six-lane road from Bhanga to Barishal to ease the communication, she added.

Referring to her party's goal to build "smart Bangladesh" by 2041, the Awami League chief said that "In this Bangladesh, our children will be well educated with proper education."

"They will learn science and technology, and become skilled human Resources. We will build them as smart and skilled human resources."

She said in the smart Bangladesh, their government will be a smart government using digital technology, agriculture will be mechanised, the economy will be smart and the society and its systems will be turned into a smart society.

She called upon the students to continue their study attentively, as no country gets developed without proper education.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Barishal City Corporation Mayor Abul khair Abdullah, Awami League Advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu and Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Party (Manju) chairman Anwar Hossain Monju, Awami League praesidium members Shajahan Khan and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, and noted actor and actress Taren Jahan and Mir Sabbir also spoke.

With Barishal District Awami League President Abul Hasnat Abdullah in chair, Organising Secretary Afzal Hossain conducted the rally