Hasina: No dialogue with Khaleda

Amid growing threat from BNP to oust the government after Eid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has outrightly dismissed the possibility of any dialogue between her and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Accusing BNP founder Ziaur Rahman for killing her parents and other relatives, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she will not have any dialogue with Khaleda Zia.

Hasina said: “Despite my hatred for them, I called Khaleda Zia and invited her for dialogue. The nation has witnessed that she misbehaved with me by refusing to attend my dinner.”

“Enough is enough. I will not hold any dialogue with her anymore,” Hasina added.

The premiere made the statement while addressing the journalists at her official residence Gonobhaban on Saturday morning.

Since the inception of current government in January, 2014, BNP has been demanding a fresh election under caretaker government. The party has been urging the government to hold dialogue over a fresh election process.

Awami League won the January 5 election which was boycotted by BNP, the then opposition in parliament. 154 MPs were elected uncontested in that poll.

On Saturday, noting that everyone asks her to hold dialogue with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Hasina said: “…it is difficult to hold dialogue with those who were involved in the killing of my parents.”

The premiere also came up with a question for those who asks her to engage in dialogue with Khaleda.

She said: “I want to ask a question to those who force me to talk to Khaleda: Is it possible to hold dialogue with the killers of your family members?”

Expressing her wrath for the tragic incident of 1975, the PM said: “I have seen the lifeless bodies of my innocent brothers and other family members. It was not easy for me to forget this and forgive the killers.”

‘Despite hatred, I called her’

Referring to her invitation to Khaleda Zia which she made in last year, Sheikh Hasina said: “Despite my hatred towards them, I called Khaleda Zia and invited her for the dialogue.

The nation has witnessed that she misbehaved with me by refusing to attend my dinner. Enough is enough. I will not hold any dialogue with her anymore.”

Criticising Khaleda Zia for celebrating her birthday on August 15, the premier said: “I have lost all my family members on that day and she [Khaleda] celebrates her birthday on the mourning day in order to hurt the nation.

The whole nation mourns the day and Khaleda Zia along with her followers celebrates the day in a festive manner.”

Alleging BNP is closely linked with militancy, Hasina also wondered why do people of Bangladesh support the party.

She said: “I do not understand why people support such a party that has close links with militancy.”

The BNP is giving shelter to the Jammat-e-Islami, a party which has committed crimes against humanity in 1971. So, we do not want to talk to them.”