PM Hasina urges people to unite against ‘BNP-Jamaat nexus’

The prime minister calls BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami a bastion of killers of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and war criminals

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami a “bastion of killers” of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and war criminals and urged people to come together to make sure these parties never return to power.

"We will not allow the BNP-Jamaat, a group of murderers and war criminals, to toy with the fate of the people of Bangladesh. This group supported the murderers of the father of the nation,” she said while addressing a large rally at Chattogram’s Polo Ground on Sunday. “They even tried to kill me again and again.”

“I want you to stay united so that these murderers and war criminals never come to power again and steal your fate.”

Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, highlighted her struggles during the six-year exile after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the rest of the family in 1975 and how she overcame it after returning to Bangladesh and dedicated her life to the people.

“Why did I come back to Bangladesh after losing my father, mother and brothers? It’s because the people of this country can at least have two meals a day, have proper housing, medical treatment, education and, most importantly, a better life,” Hasina said. “As a victorious nation in the struggle for liberation, Bangladesh should be built in a way that the people can walk with their heads held high.”

The prime minister urged people not to heed rumours, allegedly being spread by the BNP and the Jamaat, especially regarding the state of the economy.

“They [BNP and Jamaat] lack vision and public support but they are expert liars. They are experts in creating confusion with rumours. I urge you not to listen to their lies.”

Hasina assured people that the rumours of declining cash flow in the banking system were completely baseless.

“They [BNP and Jamaat] keep saying that the banks have run out of money. But as far as I know, not a single person in the country has been refused a cash withdrawal from their accounts.”

She also advised everyone to keep trusting the banking system, as it is the most secure system to keep people’s cash assets.

The port city was abuzz with the arrival of Hasina for her first rally in a decade as ruling party members swarmed the venue from early morning.

To mark the occasion, roads and alleyways across the port city have been bedecked with banners and festoons.

Meanwhile, activists from across the district converged on the city wearing t-shirts bearing images of their local MPs accompanied by marching bands.

Hasina had previously attended an Awami League rally in Patia Upazila in March 2018. However, her last appearance at a public event in the port city came in March 2012.

She inaugurated 29 projects at a combined cost of Tk 18.97 billion and laid the foundation for four projects worth Tk 14.53 billion.