Unity with convicts very unfortunate: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Dr Kamal Hossain and some civil society members joined hands with the people who were convicted for terrorism and corruption.

“Dr Kamal Hossain and some civil society members joined hands with those leaders of a party who were convicted for corruption, embezzling orphans’ money, 10-truck arms smuggling and the August 21 grenade attack…To whom they went for protecting democracy?” she questioned.

“They have forged unity with the convicted people to restore democracy…it’s very unfortunate for Bangladesh,” she said, reports BSS.

The Prime Minister was addressing a function on Tuesday evening where more than 150 retired officers of Army, Navy and Air Force expressed solidarity with the Awami League.

Sheikh Hasina said Dr Kamal Hossain and others are always vocal against terrorism and corruption.

“But they gathered at such a place of which leaders were involved in terrorism and corruption in the name of saving democracy,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina raised a question what type of democracy they want to bring in the country by forging a unity with corrupts and terrorists.

“My question is that where is lack of democracy and what is its definition…what type of democracy they want to give and they could not say that definition,” she said.

The Prime Minister said how they will establish the rule of law and root out militancy and terrorism those did not abide by laws.

“I don’t know how Bangladesh will be developed by those who destroyed the country,” she said.

About her dialogue with Jatiya Oikyafront, Sheikh Hasina said: “They wanted to talk to us and we held dialogue (with them) as many as they wanted. We did it to create a beautiful environment and the elections are held”.

In this connection, she urged the countrymen to stay alert against those who are always engaged in conspiracy.

“You will have to remain careful about those who always hatch plots against the country and its people,” she said.

Recalling Bangabandhu’s outstanding leadership in liberating the country and rebuilding war-ravaged Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said the country lost Bangabandhu within three and a half years of the independence and it was a great loss for the nation.

“Bangladesh would have been turned into a developed and prosperous country within 10 years of the independence had Bangabandhu been alive,” she said.

The Prime Minister said she has been working hard to implement an ideology and spirit. “My all efforts are for materialising an ideology and spirit and I sacrificed everything of my life for it,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina thanked the retired armed forces officers for expressing their solidarity with the Awami League and pledging to work jointly for the party in the upcoming elections.

“By casting votes for boat, we achieved the independence and ensured the development of the country,” she said.

PM’s Security Adviser Major General (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, Ex-Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Wadud, Rear Admiral (retd) Harunur Rashid, Major General (retd) Helal Morshed Khan, Air Commodore (retd) Kazi Delwar Hossain and Lt Col (retd) Kaniz Fatema also spoke on the occasion, among others.

AL Presidium Member Lt Col (retd) Muhammad Faruq Khan, its Joint Secretaries Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman and Organising Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and BM Mozammel Haque were present on the dais.

Earlier, the retired armed forces officers greeted the prime minister by presenting bouquets.

Of them, 109 were Army officers, 19 Navy officers and 18 are Air Force officers.