‘She’ didn’t want free Bangladesh: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia has shown her ‘real face’ by ‘extending support to and taking stance in favour of the war criminals’.

Hasina, who is also the President of the ruling Awami League, came up with the remarks in her introductory speech at a meeting of the Awami League Advisory Council at her official residence, Ganabhaban, in the afternoon.

In her introductory speech, Hasina said, “The opposition leader has shown her real face. She didn’t want Bangladesh’s independence...she has taken stance in favour of the war criminals.”

“I let the people to decide the issue (trial),” she added.

Hasina said Khaleda must take the responsibility of the countrywide violence unleashed by the rowdy activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir following the handing down of death penalty to Jamaat stalwart Delwar Hossain Sayedee in a war crimes case.

Khaleda recently termed the killing of people in the recent incidents of violence as ‘genocide’. Blaming the government for the killings, she said if voted to power, they would form a 'special tribunal' for holding trial of the ‘genocide’.

The BNP chief warned that all those responsible for the killings across the country, including the ‘No. 1’ in the incumbent government, would be tried by the tribunal for committing crimes against humanity.

In a counter-attack, Hasina said on the contrary, setting up of a tribunal to try the cadres of BNP-Jamaat alliance for the post-2001 poll violence, which saw loot, arson and rape, was more necessary.