Vote AL to power for another term

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament yesterday urged people to vote for the Awami League again to ensure peace and security achieved through the elimination of injustice, militancy, and the drug menace.

If voted to power again, Hasina said she would ensure extradition of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, sentenced to life in the August 21 grenade attack cases, now in London.

“If Allah wants, if we can come to power again through the election, we'll definitely be able to bring Tarique Rahman back and execute the [court] verdict,” she said while replying to a supplementary question from treasury bench lawmaker Fazilatun Nasa Bappy.

“This is why I seek blessings and votes from the people so that we can remedy this injustice and execute the verdict … ,” the PM said. 

She said, “We are negotiating with the British government to bring him back.

Tarique has been in the UK since late 2008.

“When they have been tried and the verdict has been announced, they must serve the sentence one day,” she said, adding, “They will be punished no matter wherever they hide.”

Hasina said there was no doubt that Tarique and his mother BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia were involved in the August 21 grenade attack and Tarique's father Ziaur Rahman had a hand in the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.

Replying to another supplementary question from AL lawmaker Sagufta Yasmin, the prime minister said she always faces her political rivals politically.

“Under no circumstances, I retreat from facing any political rival politically. We face them politically.”

Pointing to Oikyafront, the newly floated political alliance led by the BNP and several other parties, the PM said, “I welcome those who forged the political alliance as I think everyone has the right to do politics.

“Now different parties have forged alliances and they will take part in the election. It will strengthen the foundation of democracy.”

Hasina, however, noted that some people in the alliance had “anti-women and indecent sentiments”. They do not have the patience and the intension to make sacrifices for the people, she said. 

“If the people seek justice for anyone involved in militancy, terrorism and drug trade, or they utter indecent words, it is the duty of the state to try them. We are trying them and will continue to do so,” she added.