Prime minister Sheikh Hasina says the main opposition BNP will make a
'political mistake' if it boycotts next general elections demanding
reinstatement of caretaker government system.
In an interview with BBC Bangla on Tuesday, Hasina said the BNP should make an effort to gain people's confidence and trust.
"It
would be a political mistake," Hasina said in response to opposition
leader Khaleda Zia's recent statement that her party would not join the
polls due in 2013 if caretaker government system is not reinstated.
The prime minister also advised Khaleda to work on gaining people's confidence.
"Right
now, the main opposition should set their focus on reviving confidence
and trust of the people," she told BBC Bangla Radio.
The prime minister asserted that the relationship between BNP and ruling Awami League is "not so bad".
BNP
and its allies have been demonstrating for the reinstatement of the
caretaker government system after it was annulled through the 15th
amendment of the Constitution.
When BBC asked the prime
minister how confident she is about BNP's participation in the next
national polls under the incumbent government, she said: "The Election
Commission will hold the election. There will be a new Election
Commission ... the honourable president has already taken initiatives.
He is holding talks."
"His instructions after the dialogue will
be followed. We also want that the main opposition join the dialogue to
give their opinion. They can say whom they want as the chief election
commissioner, how they want it and what the process should be," she
added.
"They might commit a political mistake, if they do not take part in the elections."
She
said people of the country have not forgotten the "terrorism,
corruption and nepotism" during the former BNP-led four-party alliance
government.
"People want democracy. They will never accept any plot to assassinate democracy," she said.
CARETAKER GOVT ISSUE
Replying
to a query why the government did not accept the High Court's
suggestions that two more national elections could be held under the
caretaker government, Hasina said, "The High Court did not give out any
order, rather just gave opinion as an option that it can also be done."
"We've executed the prime rule of the High Court," she added.
The
prime minister held out her logic in favour of annulling the caretaker
government system and referred to the previous army-backed caretaker
government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed from 2007-2009. She also pointed out
the oppression of political parties during the period.
She also
talked of the past caretaker government's tenure and recounted its stay
in power for two years, the so-called minus two formula, torture and
jail.
"I wonder whether the opposition chief has forgotten how
she was tortured at the hands of that government. Her sons were sent out
of the country and cases filed against her are still going on in the
Anti-Corruption Commission," Hasina said.
"But still, she
(Khaleda) wants the caretaker system reinstated. Who can guarantee that
these incidents would not happen under the future caretaker government?"
she asked.
'POSITIVE' CHANGE IN POLITICS
Asked
whether her government, after taking office through a landslide victory
three years ago, could bring any positive change, Hasina said, "As the
people trusted us and gave the chance to serve them by voting for us in
2008, we've taken steps to bring positive changes in Bangladesh's
political culture. Every political party in our country can freely stage
their programmes."
Awami League used all its 'merit and power'
for the development of the country, she said, adding that nothing like
the post-election torture on opposition in 2001 by then four-party
happened after her government had taken over.
"I had been an
opposition leader, too. But there was no way one could speak. My
microphone had been stopped 72 times. Now our opposition leader can
speak for hours," she said.
Citing that opposition MPs have
been made chairmen of parliamentary standing committees, Hasina said.
"No country in the world, other than big ones, will give the chance. We
want a positive situation."
"We could create a peaceful environment in Bangladesh in the past three years as we do positive politics," Hasina added.
WAR CRIMES TRIAL
The prime minister winnowed out the charge that the two main parties are in confronting position.
"You
say that our relation is not good—it's not right. Our opposition
leaders are coming to standing committee meetings…giving their opinions.
They are going abroad with others when they need. Opposition usually
has some views, but they oppose continuously," she replied to a query
whether she would take any step to improve relation with the opposition.
"But," she said, "the present opposition is facing some problems—one is the war crimes trial."
She
said trial of the war criminals is a long-time demand of the people.
"When their (war criminals) trial is going to be realised…then our
opposition started to bomb and kill people to save those war
criminals—how can we let this happen?"
"It's our duty to ensure people's security," Hasina added.
"We aren't barring any demonstration. But it's the government's duty to stop them if they harm people's property and lives."
Two
leaders of BNP and five of its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami were arrested
on the charges of crimes against humanity committed during the
Liberation War. But BNP has been protesting the move to try them in the
International Crimes Tribunal saying that the government is harassing
opposition leaders in the name of war crimes trial.
On the
other hand, ruling party leaders blamed the opposition for some recent
bombings and arson attacks saying the opposition conducted the violence
to obstruct war crimes trial.
"If someone thinks that torching buses and bombing it will save the war criminals, he is wrong," Hasina said.
