BANGLADESH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged all citizens to strengthen the democratic system and uphold the spirit of non-communalism.

She also asked them to remain alert and stand united so that no-one can toy with their fate.

The Prime Minister made the call while exchanging greetings with representatives of the Buddhist community at her official Ganobhaban residence on the occasion of the Prabarana Purnima.

Probarona Purnima, the second largest festival of the Buddhist community, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Monday with traditional religious festivity and solemnity. Also known as Ashwini Purnima, the festival marks conclusion of the three-month long seclusion of the monks inside their monasteries for self-edification and atonement of their defilement.

The highest Buddhist leader, Sangharaj Dharmasen Mohathero announced at the meeting that they will not release Fanus (paper lanterns) in the air in the Prabarana Purnima festival, dedicating them to the ruined Buddhist monasteries in Ramu and elsewhere in last month's communal attacks.

In the beginning of her address, the Prime Minister greeted the Buddhist leaders on the occasion of the Probarona Purnima saying that people may have different religions, but festival are for all.

About the celebrations of the Eid-ulAzha, Durga Puja and Prabarana Purnima—the major religious festivals of the Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists—taking place in a short time, Hasina said that her government was working tirelessly to create a congenial atmosphere so that the people irrespective of their religion, caste and creed can enjoy equal rights and practise their faiths with full freedom and in great festivity.

"We altogether made the country independent. Therefore people of all faiths will enjoy equal rights in the country and follow their respective religions freely, peacefully and with festivity."

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of establishing communal harmony in the country. "All religions give importance to humanity, preach the message of peace and respect for each other. But sometimes such suicidal incidents take place in our society which bring out beastliness and where there is no brotherhood."

Hasina said through the attacks on Buddhist temples and monasteries in Cox's Bazaar and Chittagong, the tradition of religious and cultural tolerance of hundreds of years was destroyed.

"Your grief is that you lost your religious establishments. But we lost the tradition of hundreds of years."

The Prime Minister said that no-one could think that gunpowder could be used in burning houses and monasteries to ashes.

She said she wept when she visited Ramu upazila recently to see for herself the violence-hit areas and talk the affected people.

She said more damages would have been incurred in the attacks had it not for the personnel of Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other law-enforcing agencies and the local leaders and activists of the Awami League, who prevented the religious fanatics on the night of Sep 29. "It was ensured that no girl was victimised (in the arson attacks)."

The Prime Minister said the Army and BGB were engaged in reconstructing the Buddhist temples and monasteries as well as houses of the victims.

She also referred to the success of her government in different sectors including economy.

Sanghanayak Suddhananda Mahathero and Chairman of Bangladesh Buddhist Association Ajit Ranjan Barua requested the Prime Minister to announce the day of Prabarana Purnima as a public holiday.

In response, Hasina pointed out that there was an optional leave for the government officials and employee from the Buddhist community on Prabarana Purnima day.

In the meeting, Industries Minister Dilip Barua sought the Prime Minister's assistance for the International Buddhism Conference to be held in Dhaka on Nov 9 and the Prime Minister assured him of support.

President of Buddhist Federation Biswapati Barua, Vice-Chairman of Buddhist Welfare Trust Sajal Talukdar Barua and Principal of Dhaka international Buddhist Temple Srimat Dharmamitra Mohathero also spoke on the occasion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday has arrived in Cox's Bazaar to visit the sites of Sep 29 communal violence in Ramu Upazila.

She left Dhaka for Cox's Bazaar around 8:45am on a special plane from Kurmitola Air Base and landed here around 10:15am. Then she straight headed to Ramu.

Hasina is expected to return to Cox's Bazar from Ramu around 1pm after visiting the affected areas.

The PM will meet with senior officials and political leaders at Cox's Bazaar Circuit House to discuss the overall situation in the area. She is expected to leave Cox's Bazaar around 4pm.

Religious fanatics, apparently stirred up by a Facebook post allegedly defaming the Quran, attacked Buddhist locality in Ramu on Sep 29. At least seven Buddhist monasteries, 30 houses and shops were vandalised, looted and torched during the overnight frenzy.

The string of violence continued the following day as similar attacks took place in Chittagong's Patia, and Cox's Bazaar's Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas.

Hasina, who was in US to attend the UN General Assembly at that time, strongly criticised the attacks and ordered strict measures against the people responsible for the hate attack.

Amid raging debates over whether Parliament will exist during the national elections, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the President will make the final call.

"The Prime Minister will inform the President when s/he prefers the polls to be held, according to the West Minister type of democracy," she said.

"Then, the President will issue order," she said during question-answer session in Parliament.

"For example, I will decide when the election will be held and then the President will issue the order. Elections will not be held retaining the Parliament. He (President) will decide the size of the Cabinet, whether to dissolve Parliament... This is his (President) prerogative," Hasina said in response to Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu's question.

But, the Prime Minister did not elaborate.

Caretaker "unnecessary"

Hasina has said the interim government system is not needed anymore as polls held under the incumbent Awami League-led coalition government has been "free and fair".

"The elections held since the coalition government took office have been free and fair. So, there is no necessity of a caretaker government as a democratic environment needed to hold free and fair elections has returned after the present government took office," she told MPs.

Her government scrapped the caretaker government provision through the 15th constitutional amendment after the Supreme Court verdict on the 13th Amendment.

The latest constitutional amendment allows parliamentary polls to be held under elected partisan government. But, the BNP-led alliance has been demanding restoration of the caretaker system alleging that fair elections will not be possible under a party government.

Suranjit Sengputa, a member of the special parliamentary committee that recommended amendments, had said that Parliament will be "inactive" during the national elections.

Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon had been saying that a Parliament existing during a national election would give rise to "constitutional complexities."

The non-party caretaker government provision was incorporated in the Constitution in 1996 in the face of widespread demonstration launched by the then opposition Awami League.

The Prime Minister said, "We don't have any specific information about caretaker government system in any democratic country."

Referring to the previous military-backed emergency-time administration, Hasina said that the experience "still haunts" the people. "The people will lose their democratic rights if the system is revived and if they (caretaker) do not leave power."

The government is working to ensure continuation of the Constitutional system. We want democracy to continue� [we] will not push the country towards darkness," she added.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is scheduled to give her party's formal reactions to the recently published full verdict of the 13th Amendment at a press conference on Thursday.

The full verdict was published on Sep 16.


"Not covering scams"

The Prime Minster said her government was not covering up financial scams like the one involving Hallmark Group and was taking measures.

She said the Sonali Bank Managing Director was a member of Zia Parishad and added that the rise of the much-talked about Hallmark MD Tanvir Mahmud was from BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's erstwhile Hawa Bhaban political office in Gulshan.

Hasina alleged that when most of the businessmen had fled the country during the former military-backed caretaker government, Mahmud stayed back and thrived.

The Prime Minister said the Anti-Corruption Commission was preparing to sue those involved in the Hallmark scam. "We are sparing no one."

"It will not do by only capturing the perpetrators. The misappropriated money has to be recovered too," Hasina added.

She remarked that the culture of "misappropriating state money" was introduced by the military strongmen, hinting the past military dictatorial rules of BNP's founder Ziaur Rahman and Jatiya Party chief Hussein Muhammad Ershad.

"The military dictators have taught bank looting. They introduced the culture of evading loan repayment," she said.

Hasina mentioned the testimony of a FBI agent against Tarique Rahman in a money laundering case. Tarique is the son of former military strongman Ziaur Rahmand and BNP chief Khaleda Zia and is also the party's Senior Vice-Chairman.

The Prime Minister blamed the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament of whitening black money. "She has embezzled money of an orphanage."

She came down hard on Khaleda for not attending courts on scheduled hearing dates. On Aug 28, hearing on acceptance of charge-sheet against Khaleda in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case was adjourned for the 10th time.

Hasina also criticised the BNP chief for mysteriously "falling ill" on scheduled hearing dates in graft cases against her.

At the end of the concluding speech, the Prime Minister thanked the absent opposition chief.

"I hope she will return to Parliament before 90 business days," she said poking fun at the fact that one loses membership in case of being absent for 90 consecutive days.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday rejected the allegation of Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon that the due process was not followed in inviting him to join the cabinet.

Without naming Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed and Rashed Khan Menon, the Prime Minister said, "Two of our colleagues refused to join cabinet. One of them alleged he was not invited properly."

"This is nothing new. This is our second term in office. We invited people to join the cabinet the way we did during first time. So, there has been no deviation from the practice," Hasina, also the President of the ruling Awami League, said.

Refusing to join the cabinet Menon on Friday said that he was not invited through proper political process questioning whether invitation is sent such a way (through cabinet secretary) in any civilised county.

However, quoting the autobiography of former Indian Prime Minister IK Gujral, Hasina said, "I don't know if India is a civilised country? IK Gujral was made Prime Minister twice and he took oath getting phone calls from the cabinet division."

Without naming anyone the Awami League chief said, "Who would accept or refuse the offer is their decision. But there had been no deviation (in inviting them to join the cabinet)."

"We have many MPs, but we cannot make all ministers. We are following the normal process," she said while making the introductory speech at the Awami League Central Working Committee meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban.

On the issue Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said Cabinet Secretary was the top most official of the administration. "Cabinet Secretary is the right person to do this. This is the practice in all the democratic country. There is no alternative to this."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that she would urge the US to ban screening or publicity of the film 'Innocence of Muslims', which 'mocks' the Prophet Mohammad and portrays him as a 'buffoon'.

"I came to know that a film has been made about Prophet Mohammad. We strongly criticise such act," she said while inaugurating this year's Hajj Camp

The crudely made 13-minute English-language movie, filmed in California and circulated on the Internet under several titles including "Innocence of Muslims", triggered protests by Muslims across the world.

"I will request the US government to ban its screening and ensure strong punishment to those responsible."

The film helped generate a violent protest at the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi during which the US ambassador and three other Americans were killed on Tuesday. US officials said they believed militants used the protest as cover to carry out an armed assault on the diplomatic compound and a building that was supposed to be a safe house.

Protests have spread to other countries across the Muslim world. In Bangladesh, a number of Islamist organisations hosted agitation programmes and burned the US flag.

The Bangladesh government on Saturday also officially condemned the film. The foreign ministry statement said that it was aware that some people have tried to defend such "offensive material" on the pretext of "freedom of expression" and argued that "Inciting hatred cannot be justified as freedom of expression."

For many Muslims, any depiction of the prophet is blasphemous. Caricatures deemed insulting in the past have provoked protests and drawn condemnations from officials, preachers, ordinary Muslims and many Christians.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is widening her Cabinet, throwing in four senior politicians as she attempts to reclaim the political initiative with a year before the government runs its term.

Tofail Ahmed, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu and Mujibul Haque are set to take oath soon, a government source privy to the development told bdnews24.com on Wednesday night.

Omor Faruk Chowdhury and Abdul Hyee were also going to be sworn in as state minister in a move intended to inject new life into government functioning, the source added.

When Cabinet Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan was reached for confirmation, he said," The names are correct."

But a senior Bangabhaban official said at 11:20pm Wednesday that no swearing-in ceremony had been planned "as yet" for Thursday as widely reported in the media.

"We haven't received any such request as yet," President's Press Secretary AKM Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan said.

President M Zillur Rahman will swear the five in.

The media has spent months trying to shine a fitful light on a possible shake-up, intensely so in the past few days.

Relegated to ceremonial advisory role in Awami League, Tofail – the Industries and Commerce Minister in the 1996-2001 Hasina administration – is being brought back in from the cold. Former Secretary Alamgir, a former technocrat State Minister for Planning, spent time in prison during the 2007-8 emergency rule and it is now clear that the Presidium member's loyalty is not lost on the party.

Omor Faruk is the Awami League MP from Rajshahi-1 and Abdul Hyee is from Jhenaidah-1.

It will be baptism in government for Workers Party chief Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal head Inu, who are being finally rewarded for being on the side of Awami League on key policy issues, Mujibul Haque who is a ruling party whip in Parliament. Inu heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on telecommunications ministry and Menon is the Chairman of the one on education ministry.

Put to the test will be the governance skills of the left-leaning stalwarts, who along with Tofail, have, of late, been vocal about the government's handling of affairs such as Sonali Bank loan scam and lack of action over the 2007 August torture by troops at Dhaka University.

The fourth shake-up in the Cabinet since the Awami League and allies took office in 2009. The latest additions in the Cabinet were Suranjit Sengupta and Obaidul Quader who took oath last year. Suranjit forced his way in after three years but was caught up in scandal and resigned as Railway Minister after only four months in office.

After the coalition rode to power, Hasina formed her team with new faces, leaving the old ones in the cold.

In the first two shuffles, heavyweights like Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail, Abdur Razzaque, Abdul Jalil and Suranjit Sengupta were overlooked.


Tofail and Suranjit came under scathing criticism by party supporters – who branded them as 'reformists'– for siding with the military-backed caretaker government that detained Hasina in jail and tried to exile her.

From the Grand Alliance partners, Hasina brought two leaders in the Cabinet – Commerce Minister Ghulam Muhammad Quader of Jatiya Party and Industries Minister Dilip Barua of Samyabadi Dal.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has hinted of taking tough measures to tackle the recent 'troubles' in several top educational institutions of the country, if necessary.

"We always want to solve any problem through mutual understanding, but that doesn't mean we can't be tough. We know how to be hard," she said in a meeting with the leaders of the front and affiliated organisations of the ruling Awami League at her official Ganabhaban residence on Saturday.

Terming the standoff at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and other educational institutions as 'regrettable', she said, "The Hounarable President appoints Vice-Chancellors to different universities. But a section of teachers were waging movement over their liking or disliking."

The Prime Minister also criticised the teachers for involving students in their their agitation.

The BUET students joined agitation launched by the teachers demanding resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor. The situation created stalemate at the premier engineering university where academic activities have been hampered for months over the issue.

The Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid last week assured to accept several of their demands including removal of the Pro VC. But the students were adamant not to go back to class unless their demands were implemented.

Prime MInister bitterly criticised the students who took blood from their own body using syringe and poured it onto the stair of the BUET VC office. "How come a boy takes blood from the body of a girl and pour it onto the stairs... this is perverted mentality."

"The lesson of arrogance that you've taught the student in the name of movement would not bring any benefit for the country in the long run. Who are teaching their students this they may also face the same situation," she said.

The Prime Minister regretted as the students lost valuable time of their academic life.

Sheikh Hasina also criticised the teachers for 'changing their face' after discussion with government. "Anyone can come to us and convey their problems. We never neglect anyone. Many make promises, but do not keep it. This is really deplorable."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said lack of efficiency in public administration is the main reason behind the deficiency in good governance.

"Lack of efficiency in public administration, and often weak financial management and irregularities are the main reasons behind the overall deficit of good governance in the country," she said in her question-answer session in Parliament.

Ruling party lawmaker Bazlul Haque Harun of Jhalkathi-1 constituency put forward the question.

"It's also true that the issues related to good governance and real democracy are long-term challenges," she said. "Long-term and combined efforts are needed for their proper implementation."

Hasina said her government had already taken numerous steps to ensure good governance and 'real democracy'.

Bazlul Haque had asked Hasina what sorts of steps her government had taken to establish a discrimination-free society and proper democracy.

The Prime Minister said the present government was implementing the Sixth Five-Year Plan and Perspective Plan 2010-2021 taking effective strategy to curb corruption, improve skills in the public administration and make reforms in various institutions for putting democracy on a stronger footing.

In response to a question from female member Faridunnahar Laily, Hasina said that the government embarked upon implementation of a long-term 'Perspective Plan (2010-2021)' which has a focus on poverty reduction, improvement of per capita income, proper monetary management, increasing revenue income and higher economic growth.

During the period of Perspective Plan, the she said total revenue earning of the country would be 20 percent of GDP, and national savings would be 39.1 percent and internal investment would be 38 percent.

Answering ruling party MP Abdul Latif from Chittagong-10 constituency, Hasina said the government took a slew of measures for the development of law and order. "Now, people celebrate their festivals spontaneously without fear," she added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said she asked the Power Division to effect a two-hour daily outage to remind the people how much they had suffered earlier
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"I have ordered the Power Division to enforce load-shedding for an hour in the morning and another hour in the evening so that people do not forget the suffering caused by loadshedding," the Prime Minister said in Parliament. "It helps in a way--it cuts power bill," she joked.

She made the comment during her question time.

Asked by Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Hoque, she said Ramadan was free of power crisis and stressed minimising power use for boosting production.

Responding to the question posed by Independent MP Fazlul Azim, the Prime Minister spoke about her government's plan to increase power production to 24,000 MW and claimed that the current production was 8315 MW.

"We left office in 2001 when the power production was 4300 MW. When we returned to power in 2008, the production was 3200 MW. Power production has become normal due to our prompt measures," Hasina added.

Currently, there are 51 power plants that are producing 3595 MW daily running on gas and oil.

Hasina mentioned the installation of grid line and sub-stations to import 500 MW of power from India and said, "The power will be available from the middle of next year."

According to the Prime Minister, daily gas production is 2200 mmcf now and power stations get 950 mmcf to 1,000 mmcf gas daily.

She hoped another 420 mmcf to 480 mmcf gas will be added to the supply line by next year.

Speaker Abdul Hamid said 100 KW power was being produced every day using solar power.

Myanmar on Thursday told the Prime Minister it had formed a high-powered commission to investigate the causes of recent sectarian violence between Muslim Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists at Rakhine State.

Myanmar's Ambassador to Bangladesh U Myint Than informed Sheikh Hasina of latest situation of Rakhine state after the riot at a meeting at her office, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.

The envoy said the tension in violence-hit Rakhine state had eased after the Myanmar government sincerely tackled the situation, which was now under control of the authorities.

"The high-powered commission will dig out the cause of the violence and recommend necessary measures,' Azad quoted him as saying.

Hasina hoped the Yangon will soon start repatriating refugees from the refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Other bilateral interests were also discussed at the meeting.

Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin, PM's Principal Secretary Sheikh Wahid-Uz Zaman and Office Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman were present.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday vowed not to leave the path of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, though she had to face death several times in the past.

"I've continued working with the spirit of War of Independence to fulfil Bangabandhu's dreams despite several attempts to kill me," she said.

She said, "I'm working so that Bangladesh doesn't fall in the hands of any unconstitutional and undemocratic power."

Hasina made the promise after placing wreaths at a makeshift memorial at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the grisly grenade attack on an Awami League rally.

On Aug 21 in 2004, at least 24 people, including President Zillur Rahman's wife and senior politician Ivy Rahman, were killed in the blasts in front of the Awami League central office and some 200 others were injured.

Investigations found Sheikh Hasina, then the opposition chief, was the prime target of the attack, but survived with permanent hearing impairment. Her bodyguards and several senior party members formed a human wall to save and escort her to the car. Rapid brushfire riddled the bulletproof car as it sped off.

The chargesheet in the case filed over the blasts said the Aug 21 attack was planned after several attempts to kill her had failed.

BNP Chairman Khaleda Zia's elder son and party's Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary-General and then Social Welfare Minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, and former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar were also charged in the case along with others.

Remembering those who perished in the attack, Hasina on Tuesday held the then BNP-Jamaat alliance government responsible for the incident.

She said, "We had planned to stage a demonstration at Mukgtangon to protest an attack on the British High-Commissioner. We didn't get the permission. But then again, the permission was given late in the night."

"We had cancelled the programme. But why the permission was given?"

Hasina, also the Awami League President, continued, "Thirteen grenades blasted one by one right after I finished my speech. Those who threw the grenades had left the scene, but police shot teargas shells and charged baton on those trying to rescue the dead and injured."

She also claimed that evidences found at the scene of crime were also destroyed.

"I promise you, trials of the conspirators will be held in this land," she said promising that justice for all killings including the grenade attack would be served.

Hasina placed wreaths on the memorial at Bangabandhu Avenue at 11am as the Prime Minister and then placed another wreath as the party's President along with other Awami League leaders.

She also talked to the family members of those injured in the attack and enquired about their wellbeing.

Awami League Advisory Council member Amir Hossain Amu, General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, and Samyabadi Dal General Secretary and Industries Minister Dilip Barua, also spoke on the occasion.

Syed Ashraful Islam said, "Those who run newspapers with funding from ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam), land grabbers, and people who don't believe in the spirit of the Liberation War, have united to thwart democracy."

He also asked everyone to be united to stand against those who were conspiring to foil democracy in the country.

Protesters shouted slogans outside her hotel in London as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was about to meet her British counterpart David Cameron at 10 Downing Street on Sunday.

Some 200 gathered outside the hotel in central London and denounced the Bangladesh Prime Minister for not letting Rohingya Muslims, allegedly fleeing persecution in neighbouring Myanmar, enter her country.

Hasina was scheduled to meet Cameron, host of the global hunger summit at his official home, at 4pm (9pm BdST).

Senior politicians from Kenya, India and Brazil will be present at the summit. A group of athletes were expected to attend the hour-long summit including British double gold medalist Somali-born Mohammed Farah.

During the summit, the UK will pledge to spend £120 million on researching crops that can survive in droughts and a hunger alert system for Kenya.

Hasina is expected to leave Downing Street at about 5:00pm and will leave Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to make a presentation.

The Prime Minister is meeting the UK International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, at 8:00p Sunday night at her hotel.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has underscored the need for stronger cooperation of all to contain terrorism and militancy.

The Prime Minister came up with the call when British Secretary of State William Hague called on her on Saturday at Hotel St. Pancras Renaissance where she is staying during her five-day official visit to London.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, her Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said that during the meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated her government's tough stance against terrorism and militancy and vowed that government would never compromise on this issue.

Talking of the series of bomb blasts across the country in 2005, and grenade attack on then British High Commissioner to Dhaka Anwar Chowdhury in Sylhet city in 2004 during the rule (2001-2006) of BNP-Jamaat alliance, Hasina said that the situation has much changed now in Bangladesh.

She said the present government was handling terrorism and militancy in the country with an iron hand.

The Prime Minister also expressed her government's firm commitment to protect human rights, democracy, strengthen Election Commission, and establish good governance and rule of law, and sought stronger cooperation of the UK in counter-terrorism efforts.

She also apprised William Hague of her government's steps taken for strengthening parliamentary democracy, saying opposition members despite their constant boycott of the sessions of parliament, were taking part in the meetings of parliamentary standing committees.

Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia was present only on eight days in the ninth parliament in the last three-and-a-half years. But she spoke in the House on six days, and on the last day, she took floor for one hour and 57 minutes, she said.

During the meeting, William Hague praised the role of Sheikh Hasina in the global fora on climate change issue.

Hasina said the UK government's proposal for support to develop new port facilities and proposed redevelopment of Bangladesh's second-largest Mongla sea port under joint venture with the Mongla Port Authorities was under serious consideration of her government.

She invited British entrepreneurs to invest in pharmaceuticals, power generation, renewable energy and higher education sectors.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin and Bangladesh High Commissioner in London Dr M Sayeedur Rahman Khan were also present at the meeting.

Later, All European Awami League and All Europe Bangabandhu Parishad members called on the Prime Minister at the hotel.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has praised the former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain as he resigned from the cabinet in the wake of raging tension between the government and the World Bank over alleged corruption in the Padma bridge project.

She also mentioned that the World Bank could not provide any evidence regarding the corruption allegation they raised against Abul Hossain.

"They (WB) pointed finger at a minister," Hasina said while replying questions from local Bangladeshi community media in London. "He put up advertisements in the media making his points and then submitted resignation letter to me."

"He had not resigned (earlier) because he had the guts (to face it), because he is a patriot."

"He [Abul Hossain] also wants Padma bridge. You should appreciate, only (an) Awami League (minister) could do this," she said.

Hasina said that the World Bank had stopped financing in communications and power sector in 2005 when BNP was in power. "Did the ministers resign at that time?"

The World Bank on Jun 29 cancelled its pledged $ 1.2 billion credit for the Padma bridge project claiming that the Bangladesh government had failed to meet its four conditions, one of which was sending those linked to the alleged corruption on leave pending the investigation.

The government has all along refuted the Washington-based lender's allegations. On Monday, however, Syed Abul Hossain, who was the Communications Minister when the graft charges were made, resigned as Minister of Information and Communications Technology, clearing the way for possible negotiations with the World Bank again. Former Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiya had also been sent on leave.

However, the Prime Minister in London said that the government had not moved away from its decision to build the Padma bridge with own fund.

She said if the World Bank decides to finances the Padma bridge project, that they would do on their own judgment.

"Let them decide. We have not moved away [from the initiative to build the bridge with own fund]. We will not back off."

"Padma bridge will be built with our own funds. Our initiative is on," Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday in London.

The Prime Minister was talking to the local journalists of Bangladeshi origin at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

She reiterated her government's 'firm stand' to build Padma bridge. "We are not going backwards. We don't beg. We take loans."

"Whether World Bank comes or not we will build Padma bridge. We have the preparation," Hasina added.

On a question of submitting wealth statement of her cabinet members, the Prime Minister said the ministers submit wealth statement to the Cabinet Division every year. She also said that the account of wealth of the ministers can be found in the website of the Election Commission.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the members of Juba League, the ruling party's youth front, to be vigilant against 'any efforts to create unrest in the country'.

Awami League president Hasina was addressing them after inaugurating the organisation's sixth national congress at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Saturday.

In her 20-minute speech she advised Juba League members to build up future leadership and that they remain cautious about the people 'conspiring against the country and democracy'.

"Juba League must guard our land relentlessly... let no one play games with Bangladesh anymore," she added.

"You know who those people are… who are trying to create unrest in the country," she said.

Hasina bitterly criticised the opposition for their stand on the trial of War criminals.

"They don't want the trial to continue. They are involved in many conspiracies to destroy democracy in our country. The youth must be alert about this," she said.

Central leaders of Awami League and other front organisations as well as ambassadors and diplomats of different countries were present at the event.

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam in his speech reminisced about the first congress of Juba League in 1974 and said he was present there as a representative of Chhatra League.

Juba League Chairman Omar Faruk emphasised on finding new leadership instead of promoting old leaders. "Instead of blaming each other, a politics of self-criticism can take us a long way," he said.

"A political organisation without political movement becomes a leisure club. We need to strengthen the organisation," he added. "No outside power can harm us, because we know who they are. It may come from within, the enemies hiding inside," he said.

Awami League Advisory Council member Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak also spoke on the occasion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday wondered for whose sake Bangladesh was 'cheated', referring to the World Bank cancelling the contract to provide loan for the Padma bridge project.

"How corruption takes place when (the World Bank) did not disburse any money? For whose sake they have cheated with the people of the country. I know they are very powerful," said Hasina at the national conference of Awami League's volunteer front Swechhashebok League on Wednesday.

The Washington-based global lending agency cancelled its contract to provide $1.2 billion loan to the $2.9 billion project saying it had credible evidence of corruption in the project.

Another major financier of the project, the Asian Development Bank also followed WB by going back on its promise of giving $610 million to the project.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, the government will build Padma bridge for which the World Bank cancelled its pledged fund, with its own fund, if necessary.

She again outright rejected the World Bank's allegation of corruption in selection of the consultant for the coveted project and reaffirmed her government's position in Parliament that action will be taken against the guilty if charges of corruption against them are proved.

The Prime Minister responded to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker Fazlul Azim during her question-answer session on Wednesday.

Hasina said following the World Bank's fund cancellation, she already had a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank Governor, the Economic Relations Division and Finance Secretary regarding funding of the project.

"I've discussed with them how the construction work of the project can be started on our own fund. We must build the Padma bridge. It's not very much difficult to use our own reserve for this purpose by taking one billion dollars a year," she asserted.

Hasina further added: "We'll build the Padma bridge by any means Inshallah. It's possible if our economy moves on the right track despite the global economic meltdown."

"The World Bank has cancelled its funding. It's their will anyway. Others (lending agencies) can follow suit. We've a population of 160 million and 8 million expatriates to build the bridge."

She said the governments of many countries including Malaysia and many international agencies were interested in building the bridge under Public Private Partnership and under the Build-Own-Transfer basis. "Whatever decision we make, public interests will be given priority."

In her first reaction following the fund cancellation by the Washington-based global lender, the Prime Minister alleged that the World Bank came forward to pour money in the communications sector, but raised corruption allegations without any evidence.

"They didn't release even a single penny, then how can they say that corruption was committed [in the project]? Instead you'll find that it itself corrupt."

"It's essential to scrutinise who are behind it and what are their motives," she added.

Hasina urged all to go through the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine to know about the World Bank's corruptions.

She `pointed out that the World Bank had suspended funding in the power, energy and communications sectors due to corruptions of the BNP-led four-party government. She added that her government started the work to upgrade the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway into four-lanes with its own fund.

She said the Bank suspended funding for seven projects including Dhaka-Mymensingh Four Lane Project. But, she noted, the BNP-led government did not change any minister over the Bank's allegation of corruption.

The Prime Minister said her government during her first spell in power in 1996- 2001 had envisaged the Padma bridge project, but the subsequent BNP government suspended its construction.

"None could raise any question about the transparency at any stage of the land acquisition and rehabilitation programmes involving Tk 15 billion. Even the World Bank report says that no corruption was committed in the acquisition process."

Referring to the communication with the World Bank officials on the Padma bridge issue, Hasina said after the Awami League-led coalition took office in 2009, senior consultant of the World Bank Isabella Lawen arrived Bangladesh. "She gave me two papers containing allegation of corruption in two projects during the time of the previous BNP government."

"Even so, as the World Bank was insisting, we changed the Minister concerned, the Secretary and the Project Director without any proof of corruption against them," the Prime Minister said.

Hasina alleged that the World Bank had proposed the name of a company as the consultant to the project. "They had sent us letters thrice. Our special committee found that the company was fake. If it's a fact, how was corruption committed in the project?"

The special court set up to hold Peelkhana mutiny trial has asked former Army chief Moeen U Ahmed, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Military Secretary Maj Gen Joynul Abedin and two others to appear before it on July 4.

The Special Court judge, who is also the Dhaka Metropolitan Additional Session's judge, Mohammad Akhteruzzaman passed the order on Monday.

The two other asked to appear before the court are former Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad and now-defunct Bangladesh Rifles officer Let Col (Retd) Jahan Ara Begum.

"The court has summoned them for making their deposition," said Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajal.

On Monday, Mehrin Ferdous, wife of Dhaka Sector Commander Mojibul Hoque, who was killed during the mutiny, Munmun Akter, wife of Lt Col Shamsul Azam, BDR Hospital doctor Snigdha Sarker, and its nurses Selina Sultana, Aklima Akter and Sabina Yeasmin deposed before the court.

As many as 74 people, including 57 Army officers, were killed in the mutiny on Feb 25 and 26, 2009. Later, the force was renamed Border Guard Bangladesh.

A murder case was filed after the mutiny, with 1,087 witnesses. The court set up on the playground adjacent to the Alia Madrassa started recording depositions on Aug 24 last year.

The Criminal Investigation Department submitted chargesheet accusing 824, including former BNP lawmaker Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu and Awami League leader Torab Ali. Another 834 were accused in another case filed in connection with the Explosives Act.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has blamed 'corruption in the family of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina' for cancellation of the World Bank fund for construction of the proposed Padma bridge.

"None other than the government and the Prime Minister's family are involved with the corruption in the Padma bridge project," Khaleda said on Saturday while distributing aid among flood-hit people of Chittagong at Bahaddarhat.

"The World Bank has said it won't give money for the project. So, the Padma bridge is not going to be built in the tenure of this government," she added.

The global lending agency on Friday cancelled $1.2 billion (764 million pounds) promised credit for Padma bridge project with immediate effect, saying it had "credible evidence" of a high-level corruption conspiracy among Bangladeshi government officials.

"In light of the inadequate response by the government of Bangladesh, the World Bank has decided to cancel its $1.2 billion ... credit in support of the Padma multipurpose bridge project, effective immediately," the World Bank said in a statement.

Khaleda said 'long bridges' like those on Jamuna and Bhairab had been built during BNP's tenure with the help of World Bank and other lenders.

"But," she added, "There were no allegations of corruption in those projects."

"The government has started corruption even before the work to build the bridge has started. They are doing this to earn huge amounts of commission," she said.

Khaleda also alleged that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had become a 'subordinate organisation' of the government. "The ACC operates following orders from the government."

"The World Bank had cited specific instances of corruption in the Padma bridge project. But they (government) did not take any step. No step was taken even against the minister involved with the corruption in the project," Khaleda said.

The World Bank in its statement said it had provided evidence of corruption from two investigations into the Padma bridge project to Bangladesh's Prime Minister and other senior government officials to press for action.

The 6-km bridge is meant to link the country's underdeveloped south with the capital Dhaka and the main port of Chittagong.

Then Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain was transferred after the allegations had been brought, though he has been saying that there was no corruption in the project.

After the global lender suspended fund for the project last year, Malaysia expressed its eagerness to build the bridge. Later this year, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh. On Jun 28, it submitted a draft plan to build the bridge.

Khaleda on Saturday also slammed the government's move to find an alternative funding for the bridge construction.

"Now they (government) are trying to build the bridge [with loans] at high interest rates ... And the high interests will be passed on to the people," she said.

Khaleda, a two-time Prime Minister, also said BNP would build two bridges on the Padma river, one near Mawa and another near Daulatdia, once it returns to power.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has once again defended her government's move of setting up rental and quick rental power plants.

"Many have questioned why these power plants had been set up. They said that these are ruinous. But you should consider its advantages. The industrial production and exports have got a boost due the rising power generation." she said on Saturday.

The Prime Minister was addressing a discussion marking the 63rd founding anniversary of Awami League at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.

Apart from the opposition, some experts have also criticised the government for setting up rental and quick rental plants one after another across the country by providing huge amount of subsidies to the energy and power sectors.

To deal with the soaring demand for power, the government set up 24 furnace oil-based rental and peaking power plants soon after it took the office in January in 2009. It also plans to set up 27 more power plants of this category. But production in most of the power plants have remained suspended as the prices of furnace oil have gone up.

Next elections

Asserting that the next parliamentary elections would be held under the present government's tenure, Hasina said: "We've taken measure so that none can grab the state power by violating the constitution."

Hasina, also the President of the Awami League, also referred that the Awami League government have so far arrangeed 5,175 elections including 12 by-elections and polls to city corporations, municipalities and upazila and union parishads in a free, fair and neutral manner.