Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses the nation to mark the second anniversary of her government assuming office.
The Awami-League-led government is trying to launch Bangladesh on the road to development but the BNP is putting hurdles on the way, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Her allegation came in an address to the nation on the completion of her government’s two years in office on Tuesday.
Hasina formed the government for the second consecutive term following the Awami League’s victory in the BNP-boycotted 10th parliamentary election.
The election was held two years ago on Jan 5, 2014.
The BNP had threatened to foil the election and later labelled as ‘illegal’ the government formed through what it called a ‘voter-less balloting’.
Hasina said, “The heinous and barbaric terror the BNP-Jamaat(-e-Islami) alliance had unleashed after the parliamentary election of Jan 5, 2014 will never be forgotten.
“Their brutality is comparable only with the cruelty of the Pakistani hyenas and their cohorts.”
“You had ensured the victory of democracy that day by ignoring the terror and bombings. But the BNP and Jamaat leaderships cannot tolerate democracy and development. They cannot stand the prospect of people living in peace and happiness,” she added.
The BNP-led 20-Party alliance had called an indefinite blockade on the first anniversary of the national election in 2015.
Over a hundred people had been killed and innumerable vehicles torched in three months full of firebombing and sabotage.
That movement had been launched to hamper development, the prime minister said.
“The BNP and the Jamaat had resorted to wanton destruction and mass killing to protect the war criminals and stall the BNP chief’s (Khaleda Zia) appearance in court.”
She said 231 people had been killed and 1,180 other injured in firebombings. In addition, 2,903 vehicles, 18 trains, and eight ferries had been torched.
“The BNP chief took recourse to theatrics to spend 92 days with 68 people in the comfort of her (Gulshan) office, while leaving people in hardship, inhuman suffering, and imperiled. She (Khaleda) ordered the orgy of violence and killings,” Hasina said.
But the BNP chairperson found no mass support for her ‘terrorist’ programme and had to finally appear before court with the burden of defeat and went back home in utter ignominy, said the Awami League president.
Hasina repeated that those involved in acts of sabotage would not be spared.
“The arsonists have been arrested and brought to justice. They are currently being tried. Those who have snatched away your dear ones and damaged public property will certainly be punished,” she told the people.
Source: Bd news24
