PM blasts unity move

Mentioning that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman were convicted in graft cases, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Dr Kamal Hossain and Badruddoza Chowdhury joined forces with corrupt people to fight corruption.

“Together with all such corrupt persons, Kamal Hossain and Badruddoza Chowdhury will fight corruption now. Manna will also fight,” she quipped while addressing a civic reception accorded to her by the US Awami League in New York's Hilton Hotel on Sunday.

Hasina said the BNP chief was convicted of embezzling orphans' money while Tarique was convicted in the 10-truck arms haul case and a corruption case.

She said former caretaker government adviser Mainul Hosein, who was “convicted” in Kakrail land dispute case, also joined them.

Moudud Ahmed, who was granted clemency by former president Ershad after being convicted in a graft case and lost his Gulshan house after occupying it illegally, was also with them, Hasina added.

Criticising Dr Muhammad Yunus, the PM said he didn't quit the post of Grameen Bank managing director despite winning the Nobel Prize. “Now he is rich by providing loan to the poor at a high interest rate.”

Dr Yunus made the World Bank suspend its financing for the Padma bridge project with the help of his friend Hillary Clinton, she said, adding, “After my arrest during the tenure of the caretaker government, he [Dr Yunus] gave double A plus mark to the Iajuddin-led government.”

“All these people -- an interest-taker, a bribe-taker, a plunderer and a killer involved in August 21 killing attempt -- have now come together on a single platform.”

Referring to Juktofront, she said, “Why will it have to oust the government? What's the reason?... There's not a sector where there's no development... these [developments] have been possible as Awami League is in power.”

Pointing at Dr Kamal, Hasina said a noted person was involved in the politics of Awami League in the past and later formed a party of his own, but failed.

“Since he couldn't develop a party, they all are now on the same platform. Who's he? He is my uncle Kamal Hossain. He has joined forces with Tarique Zia's Badu Kaka [uncle] who was forced to run along the railway track after being chased.”

Hasina said Mahmudur Rahman Manna was elected president and general secretary of Dhaka University Central Student Union (Ducsu) time and again as he was in the good books of Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad.

She, however, welcomed them for being able to come under one platform. “Let them join the election. If people cast their votes for them, they will come to power. I've no problem.”

Last month, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Nagorik Oikya formed a new alliance called Juktofront, which recently forged unity with Dr Kamal's Jatiya Oikya Prokriya.

On Saturday, several top BNP leaders shared the stage with Dr Kamal and Badruddoza at a citizens' rally in the capital and extended full support to Jatiya Oikya Prokriya's demands, including formation of a polls-time neutral government.

The rally was also joined by leaders of nine other components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

ON DIGITAL SECURITY ACT

The PM said parliament recently passed the Digital Security Bill to prevent the bad impacts of social networks and digital devices.

Blasting journalists for criticising the law, she said they only think about their own interests, but they don't consider the social problems caused by the digital devices.

Hasina arrived in New York on Sunday to join the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

A British Airways flight carrying the PM and her entourage touched down at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, at 2:10pm (local time).

Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Mohammad Ziauddin and Bangladesh permanent representative to the UN Masud Bin Momen received her at the airport.