Google Alert – Bangladesh Army
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday said the opposition had a link with the recent coup attempt by some in-service and former military officers to overthrow the government, reports UNB.
“The opposition leader threatened to oust the government by December last year…Now, we can understand what really that was,” she said at a views-exchange meeting with the Awami League leaders from Noakhali district at her official residence Ganobhaban.
The prime minister said, “Those days are gone to change an elected government through different (unconstitutional) means. I want to make it clear that changing an elected government in a different way or trying to go to power using a shortcut path are not possible these days.”
She thanked the army for foiling the coup plot in time and mentioned that it is the armed forces that paid the most in resisting coups in the past.
“A vested quarter uses the army to come to power through an illegal way and, after assuming power, they start killing the army personnel,” she added.
In this connection, she, mentioning the name of Zia, said: “Zia used the army to come to power. After capturing power, he hanged the armed personnel every day in the name of trial.”
Hasina categorically said the coup attempt was made just to save the anti-liberation forces and stop the trial of war criminals.
The premier said it was very unfortunate that the country saw a threat from the opposition party to oust the government in December, the month of victory.
“These bad elements of the country still suffer from the agony of their defeat in 1971 and they want to take revenge for that,” she said.
She asked the opposition leader to come to the parliament to ventilate whatever her party’s grievances against the government are. “Hold political programmes, come to parliament to speak up,” she urged the opposition leader.
Hasina said she and her party always believe in empowerment of people and the people will decide who will be there in power. “I won’t allow anyone to play with the fundamental rights of the people of this country,” she categorically said.
Asserting that the election is the only way to change a democratic government, she said the government is strengthening the Election Commission.
The prime minister said all elections held under the present government were free, fair and acceptable.
Hasina mentioned that the Election Commission enjoys all powers during any election and takes decisions independently. “It can do whatever it wants. It can ask the government to change any government official from the respective area and the government has to abide by the Commission’s directive.”
Hasina said the policy of the Awami League is to give people their power. “People will choose their desired persons during any election,” she said.
Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Sheikh Selim, Communications Minister Obaidul Kader, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Satish Chandra Roy were present.