PM goes gaga over Opposition

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has lauded the Jatiya Party for playing the role of what she called an ‘effective’ Opposition in the 10th Parliament.

Denouncing the role of the main opposition in the ninth Parliament, the BNP, she also urged HM Ershad’s party to criticise the government’s negative activities if any.

“It is also the Opposition’s responsibility to cooperate with the government. Our Opposition party is present [in Parliament] and is duly performing its duties,” Hasina said on Thursday.

In her her closing remarks capping the first session of the new Parliament, she also thanked Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad in the beginning of her thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech.

“The party in Parliament is the opposition. The one not in Parliament is just a political party,” Hasina said alluding to the BNP.

HM Ershad's Jatiya Party emerged as the second largest bloc in Parliament with 34 seats after it contested the Jan 5 parliamentary elections boycotted by the BNP.

Its role as an effective opposition, however, was questioned after some of their MPs joined Hasina’s Cabinet as ministers.

Raushan in her speech on Thursday said her party cooperated with the government in the past. Jatiya Party did not want to be the opposition only, it also wished to assist in the country’s development, she said.

“No opposition party had ever helped the government in Bangladesh. But we want (to do) it. But whenever we try, the move is viewed with suspicion because none saw this system before.”

“We believe in the Westminster form of democracy where both the ruling party and the Opposition party are complementary to each other,” Raushan added.

The prime minister also urged the Jatiya Party to assist. “We want that the Opposition will speak for the people.”

Hasina also mentioned that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had attended only 10 days of 418 business days when she was the Leader of the Opposition in the ninth Parliament.

“She only came to save the membership. It doesn’t matter if such opposition exists or not.”

Responding to Raushan’s call to take preventive measure to end food adulteration, the prime minister said the government’s effort was still on.

‘Don’t be confused’

Even though many ruling party MPs came down hard on Khaleda’s son Tarique Rahman on Thursday, the prime minister preferred not to comment directly regarding his recent claim that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the first ‘illegal prime minister’ of Bangladesh.

She said, “Only those who are anti-impendence and support the defeated force are making such remarks. They will say many things to create confusion. But I will ask the people to not be confused by this.”

Such attempts would not yield any positive results, she warned.

Tarique at a programme in London on Apr 8 said Bangabandhu was the first ‘unlawful prime minister’.

His remarks came less than two weeks after he made the startling claim that his father, BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman was Bangladesh’s first president.

Bangabandhu’s daughter Hasina recapped the events of the month of April in 1971.

“Public representatives elected in the 1970 elections formed the government on April 10 as per the plan. Oath-Taking was done at Mujibnagar on April 17 and the declaration of independence was adopted. (General MAG) Osmani was made the Commander in Chief on April 11.”

She said, “Bangabandhu went to London on January 8 after he was released and returned to Bangladesh on January 10.”

“The Cabinet’s meeting took place at Mr Tajuddin’s (Tajuddin Ahmed) house on Hare Road on April 11. The decision to form the cabinet government was taken there.”

Awami League President Hasina also read Bangabandhu’s order to revive parliamentary democracy in Parliament.

After reading out every gazette issued with regard to introduction of parliamentary democracy, she urged the Speaker to preserve them.

She also described how Maj Ziaur Rahman came to power. “Betrayer and killer Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed made Ziaur Rahman army chief after murdering Bangabandhu.”

“Ziaur Rahman proclaimed himself the President after forcing Mr Sayem (Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem) to resign at gunpoint. Ziaur Rahman illegally grabbed power this way.”