Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said we want all the political parties to take part in the next general election. If any party decides not to participate in the polls, it’s their matter. For that reason, we can’t stop the operation of our constitution. As part of the constitution, the election will be held to continue the democratic process.
She said this as a journalist questioned her whether the Awami League would participate in the next election with the existing alliance or not, during a press conference organized to brief the media at the Prime Minister’s official Ganabhaban residence in the Capital about the outcome of her recently concluded four-day official visit to India from September 5-8.
Awami League (AL) general secretary, Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader, presidium member Motia Choudhury, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque were also present in the press conference.
After reading out the written statement, PM answered questions to the journalists. In reply to one question, she said time will decide who would be in Alliance with AL in next election. Jatiyo Party was with us, participated in the last election. Time will decide their position in next one. Our doors are open to all.
About nominations in Zilla Parishad election and sorting out candidacy for 12th National Parliamentary Election, Sheikh Hasina said, nimanations in the local government election are selected by considering many things.
She hinted change in the candidacy in upcoming parliamentary election.
About recent visit to India: A new horizon in the relationship between Bangladesh and India has been started, said Sheikh Hasina, adding that they want to go ahead by integrating the existing friendly relations between two neighbors.
She said during the visit, we saw the cordial approach of India and their commitment to continue cooperation between two countries. People of both countries will reap benefits if the decisions made during the last visit are implemented properly.
Clearing stance of India about Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said all parties and castes of the neighboring country always remains consent. When we implemented the land border treaty, exchanged enclaves, then Indian parliament passed law regarding these matters. I always think all the relevant problems between two countries can be solved through discussions whatever the problems might be.
About money-laundering issues: Answering a question regarding money laundering, Pime Minister said, we’ve information about many renowned persons who’re involved with money laundering. Actions against them will be taken through Anti-corruption Commission and Bangladesh Bank.
She said government demanded information from Swiss Bank about the people who are involved in money laundering, but they didn’t provide us with the list.
Bangladesh always pays back to the loans from wherever they take it and didn’t become loan defaulter, she added.
Stance of India, Myanmar regarding Rohingya Issue: Replying to question regarding Rohingyas, Prime Minister said, we got positive response from India when we had asked for their cooperation regarding the matter; however the problem is Myanmar doesn’t bother how much pressure is given to them to solve the issue.
Achievement from recent India Visit: Signifying the question of achievement from India as relative, she said we didn’t come from India empty-handed. We usually get cooperation from our neighboring country in business, trade, agriculture and transport. Even we’ve brought the oil in through pipelines. So, It’s not justified that we’ve came empty-handed.
In BNP regime they’d taken various decisions that went against the interest of the country and forgotten to discuss about the water of Ganges, said Sheikh Hasina, adding that AL doesn’t forget their responsibilities.
Prime Minister said we’ve signed MoU regarding Kushiara river which will made possible the flood-control and water-extraction system development in 53,420 hectare area of land in Sylhet’s Gopalganj, Fenchuganj, Biyanibajar, Sylhet Sadar and Jokiganj, in addition to providing irrigation to 16,600 hectare of land through Rahimpur Pump House.
Diesel from India through pipelines: Diesel will have to bringing in from India, said Prime Minister adding that Diesel will come from Shiliguri of India to Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur through India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipelines, which will minimize the cost of oil transportation.
India will stand by Bangladesh to mitigate its fuel-crisis as MoU also got signed regarding this important issue, she added.
Bangabandhu’s biopic: In replying to a question, whether she watched the final version of the film ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation,’ she said, some debate has been seen after the telecast of trailer having the scene of the historical speech of March 26. I think it has portrayed The Father of the Nation slightly different form that what we see him usually.
However, she enjoyed the biopic as far as she watched it, Prime Minister said.
Marking it as a movie she said everyone should watch it just as a movie.
@The article appeared on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 15,2022 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque.
