Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman went to the extent of orchestrating attacks to thwart her niece Tulip Siddiq’s victory in the UK parliamentary election.
Hasina and other Awami League leaders spoke of ‘conspiracies’ that were purportedly designed to prevent Tulip from winning the May polls.
Hasina was speaking on a thanksgiving motion on the election of three British MPs of Bangladeshi origin to the House of Commons on Tuesday.
“She (Tulip) faced difficulties. You all know Khaleda Zia’s son did all he could to thwart Tulip’s victory,” she alleged. “He even orchestrated attacks on voters.”
Tarique, accused in a case for allegedly trying to kill Hasina, has been living in the UK for seven years.
Many Awami League leaders demanded that the presumed heir to BNP chief should be brought back and put on trial.
Former foreign minister Dipu Moni tabled the thanksgiving motion to congratulate the three UK-Bangladeshis who won the May 7 polls.
Tulip was elected from Hampstead and Kilburn on a Labour ticket.
Rushanara Ali, the first British MP of Bangladeshi origin, retained her seat, the Bethnal Green and Bow constituency in east London.
Tulip Siddiq receiving a bunch of flower from her aunt Sheikh Hasina after her win in British parliamentary polls. File Photo.
Rupa Huq won from Ealing Central and Acton, a north-west London seat.
Rupa from Pabna and Rushanara of Sylhet had made the people of Bangladesh proud, Hasina said.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, among others, took part in the discussion.
The motion was passed unanimously after the discussion.
Hasina thanked expatriate Bangladeshis in the UK and Europe for standing by Tulip.
“I’m grateful to you,” she said, “I thank you on behalf of the people of Bangladesh.”
The prime minister had listened to Tulip’s maiden speech in Parliament.
“…We felt very proud of her,” Hasina said. “We witnessed a rare honour.”
She recalled the struggle of her sister and Tulip’s mother Sheikh Rehana after the assassination of architect of Bangladesh’s independence Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Our father was an honest politician and we did not have the financial resources to study abroad,” Hasina said.
Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana looking at photos of their father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
One of Bangabandhu’s friends arranged a job for Rehana. She assisted her husband in his studies.
“Rehana struggled in life but never thought of taking advantage [of my position],” the prime minister said. “She still goes to office in public buses.”
Hasina returned home in 1981. “She (Rehana) not only looked after her children but also mine as well. She is a proud guardian of five children.”
She was with Rehana when Tulip was born in 1982.
“The little Tulip studied and got a job. It’s really astonishing to see the workload the little girl can take,” the prime minister added.
She asked the people to pray for her niece.
“Both Rehana and I went through hardship after the murder of Bangabandhu,” Hasina said.
“Rehana lived with an asylum status in London and that’s why Tulip got the chance of being elected [to the UK Parliament].
“Her journey has started. I request everyone to pray for her success.”
Source: bdnews24