Abu Hayat Mahmud
Hasina also rejects the idea of severing ties with any nation
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday rejected the notion that the country could not move ahead and develop without the help of some specific
countries.
Hasina’s remark came following a media report that the relation with the US might deteriorate.
The prime minister, however, said her government does not want to sever diplomatic relation with any country either.
She said this after she was asked about the relation with Pakistan responsible for the massacre in 1971. “It is not the policy of Bangladesh to break up diplomatic tie with any country,” she said.
“We gave our reply to Pakistan during the Liberation War in 1971. We want to maintain good relations with all countries around the world.”
The premier was speaking at a press conference to brief the media about the outcomes of her recent Malaysia visit and the Saarc Summit in Nepal.
“Bangladesh is an independent country. We are a nation that cannot bank on any single country. Questions might be there in public mind if we can do without the US, which I think is wrong,” she said.
“We achieved our victory in 1971 that it [the US] opposed. It also tried to foil the January 5 polls but it could not. Several countries helped us in our Liberation War. We believe in friendship to all and malice to none,” she said.
As she was asked about US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswa’s visit, she said: “if she [Nisha Desai] told anything to the BNP chairperson you [journalists] can question them.”
At the diktat of the US foreign minister the World Bank suspended the fund for Padma bridge on charge of graft allegations that were later proved wrong, she said.
At the press briefing Hasina called upon BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to stop holding meetings in the dark of night.
According to media reports, a group of incumbent and former public servants held a meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office on Thursday night.
Citing the title of Hindi film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke she said: “Whatever you [Khaleda] want to do, do it in broad daylight and stop holding meetings at the dead of night.
“Law will take its own course. Actions will be taken against the officials if they are found to have violates the law.”
She criticised the Transparency International (TI) for its recent report that said corruption in Bangladesh was on the rise.
The TIB only raises silly issues but it kept mum during the military-backed caretaker government and said nothing about money laundering and corruption of the BNP chairperson and her son during the BNP tenure, Hasina vented her anger on the TIB.
“If it [the TIB] has evidence, it can expose the government’s corruption. But it cannot do so as the government is going in the right direction.”
The sources of income and amount of assets of those who are bringing fake allegations will be unearthed, she warned.
Answering to questions about her political adviser HT Imam’s remarks about Chhatra League and January 5 polls, Hasina said: “The responsibility for the remarks goes to him, not to the party.”
Sheikh Hasina termed her Nepal and Malaysia tours successful.
The 18th Saarc conference was very important for the regional stability. This is not all about rail link or connectivity, it also involves import, export, curbing terrorism and others.
Hasina said she sat with the prime ministers of India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and others to develop bilateral relations, exchange manpower, develop business, and control terrorism.
She stressed the need for exporting manpower through proper way. The prime minister said Malaysia agreed to recruit 12,000 more Bangladeshi workers.
“An agreement was also signed on the manpower export to Malaysia,” said Hasina.
Positive progress was made in strengthening economic relations, developing housing sectors, business, education, and others between Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
Bangladesh needs no other country so long it is subservient to Delhi’s signals. That part is what she is saying. The last SAARC meeting was a rubbish. Just a show; nothing tangible happened. She hates all transparent things as it exposes her and her ruling party. She hides the killers of her party at all costs. The last President pardoned hard criminals because these goons were Awami Leaguers. May God give him a place in the dungeon.