Describing leaders of Jatiya Oikya Front as people with no ethics and ideology, ruling Awami League’s chief Sheikh Hasina said that the sole aim of the opposition alliance was to rehabilitate the 1971 war criminals.
“They have now joined hands with the corrupt and gave ticket to war criminals for the election,” she said on Monday (Dec 17) while addressing an Awami League-organised discussion on the 48th Victory Day.
Coming down hard on Gano Forum chief Dr Kamal Hossain, who leads the coalition, the prime minister said she feels pity for him.
“The Oikya Front is yet to make it clear who will lead the government if takes office. I wonder who would it will be? The person who embezzled funds meant for orphan (BNP chief Khaleda Zia) or the one convicted of the Aug 21 grenade attack (acting BNP chief Tarique Rahman) leaving Ivy Rahman killed or someone who has been convicted of war crimes?,” asked Hasina.
In a clear reference to Oikya Front’s manifesto, rolled out earlier in the day, she questioned the authenticity of the claim that the government exercised “unimaginable abuse of power” during the last ten years.
“I want to know how developing the country, improving the lives of its people constitutes abuse of power?” she asked.
Hasina said she wonders what the opposition coalition’s call for change meant. “Is it once again restoring a reign of terrorism, corruption, siphoning off money, topping the list of corrupt nations, electoral roll with fake voters and farcical polls?”
Continuation of the Awami League in government is imperative for the sake of development, she said before adding: “The Awami League needs to be in office for another five years to finish the development initiatives.”
Soliciting votes for the party, Hasina said her party wants to further develop the country.
“Relatives of war criminal have got tickets to run in the in the election. Politicians who killed people in arson have no right to seek votes. How can the people, who did not want (an independent) Bangladesh seek vote?” she said.
Hasina said that she was confident that the people of the country “will make no mistake to vote for the right choice.”