Minister Nasim says Awami League will be as tough as needed to form government again

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has said the government is adopting a tougher stand “in the interest of the development”.

A senior leader of the ruling Awami League, he said, "Now our aim is to ensure that the country continues to prosper under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina beyond the present tenure. For that to happen, the government will get as tough as is necessary."
 
Arguing in favour of a strong government, he cited the example of countries like Malaysia and Singapore which attained their freedom “about the same time” as Bangladesh became independent.
 
But these countries have developed at a much faster pace due to strong leadership, he said.
 
"For the sake of development the government under Sheikh Hasina will provide strong leadership until 2019 and after that, elections will be held under her government and her return to power will be ensured,” Nasim said. 
 
The BNP had boycotted the 2014 general election held under Hasina’s administration that had put the Awami League in power for the second consecutive term.
 
The BNP has since been leading a movement for what they term democratisation of government.
 
In this context, the minister lashed out at former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s party, saying that his party does not believe in the BNP's brand of democracy which provides no justice and which is behind the killing of the nation’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mijibur Rahman.