Prioritise people’s mandate, not India's, to avoid meeting same fate as Hasina: Asif to political parties

Bangladeshi political parties should prioritise the people's mandate instead of India's if they want to avoid meeting the same fate as ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Adviser Asif Mahmud said today (30 November).

Political parties will not be able to come to power with the blessing of external powers, the youth and sports adviser also said while addressing a programme at Durgaram Govt High School in Camilla's Muradnagar, where he studied. "The only way to come to power is by the people's mandate."

He stated that many conspiracies are being hatched at home and abroad in the current situation of Bangladesh.

"I am very sorry to say that our political parties have a deep-rooted idea that Bangladesh cannot come to power without India's blessings. The way they are speaking is very scandalous for the people of this free country," he said.

Referring to political parties, he said, "If you think it is impossible to come to power in this country without India's blessings, then I have to point out that no one received more blessings from India than Hasina. You have clearly seen what the people of Bangladesh have done to Sheikh Hasina.

"If you do not want to meet the same fate, then accept the mandate of the people of Bangladesh as the only way to come to power."

The adviser said Cumilla was deprived during the Awami League regime. "I will discuss the demand of this region to make Cumilla an administrative division and make efforts to implement it speedily. I would also say that if a division is formed here, it will be called Cumilla."

At the programme, 35 people, who partook in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in July and August, were provided financial assistance.