Opposition creating unrest; unhappy with success of govt
Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday accused the opposition parties of attempts to plunge the country into chaos.
Frustrated by their election debacle, she said in parliament, the BNP-led opposition is making 'incendiary' remarks about the BDR bloodbath to 'create unrest'.
Speaking on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech, Hasina said she wants to know if new schemes are being hatched to destabilise her government.
She urged the opposition to wait till the next election for people to decide who should be in power. "Please cooperate with us. Don't do anything that might tarnish the country's image."
She also said she wants to patch things up with her archrival and work together in the interests of democracy.
Refuting Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia's allegations with regard to the government's handling of BDR crisis, she said, "Perhaps, she is unhappy that the situation did not lead to a civil war and overthrow of the grand alliance government."
The prime minister asked where "she [Khaleda] went in a car with tinted windows shortly after the mutiny broke out at Pilkhana".
She said she wonders if the vicious killings of the army officers were a reprisal for the armed forces' role in ensuring a free and fair conduct of the December 29 election.
"They (armed forces) worked neutrally and tirelessly to create an atmosphere conducive to holding a credible and peaceful election. It was them who prepared a new voter roll weeding out over one crore ghost voters."
About government measures to end the Pilkhana mutiny, she said, "I took each and every step in consultation with chiefs of the three forces, and my colleagues in the cabinet and party."
Mentioning the BDR carnage, Hasina observed that only those who patronise war criminals and the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman can commit such atrocities.
She warned the opposition leader against making statements that might influence the investigation.
Citing the caretaker government's ban on her return from abroad, the premier said former adviser Major Gen (retd) MA Matin called her and asked not to fly back home.
"When I enquired why, he said they were doing a great job, they are trying to send Khaleda into exile. I protested the move and eventually got back home defying the government restrictions."
She said the BNP chief would have been forced to go abroad, had she [Hasina] not returned to the country braving all odds.
At that point, Speaker Abdul Hamid said it seems to him that the two leaders in fact helped each other indirectly.
In over one-hour-long speech on the concluding day of the current parliament session, Hasina described the previous AL-led government's success in different sectors.
She said she considers presidency an institution and so she is in favour of thanking the president (Iajuddin Ahmed) for his address to the ninth parliament.
Govt failed to handle BDR massacre; CG rulers should be tried
Staff Correspondent
Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia yesterday in parliament asked the government not to behave in ways which push the opposition to take 'tough decisions'.
Saying that the Awami League-led government failed to tackle the BDR massacre in Pilkhana, Khaleda raised questions on whether Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should continue to hold the portfolio of the defence ministry.
Taking part in the discussion on a thanks-giving motion on former president Iajuddin Ahmed's speech, Khaleda demanded trial of the members of Fakhruddin Ahmed-led caretaker government for their 'misdeeds' in the last two years.
Strongly criticising Fakhruddin government, Khaleda said 'engaging the forces of BDR in controlling commodity prices was a mockery, which resulted in the recent mayhem in the border security force headquarters'.
Appearing in the JS after a long break, the opposition leader said, "With a limited number of lawmakers, we are trying to make parliament functional and uphold multiparty democracy, therefore we are continuing to extend our cooperation to the government."
"I don't know how much longer we will be able to keep continuing our efforts, as the treasury bench lawmakers are hurling epithets in foul languages at the opposition lawmakers," Khaleda said during her one-hour and forty minutes speech.
"It's not possible for any decent person to perform his or her duties, if the situation continues to remain the same," the BNP chief said adding, "It seems they [treasury bench] want an opposition free House."
"I urge the government, so we are not forced to take any tough decision," added the leader of the opposition.
The opposition leader said Fakhruddin Ahmed-led caretaker government presided over a 'barbaric rule for two years, besmirched politicians, and labelled them as bad persons'.
"The caretaker government which had no public mandate should be tried for giving the country a bad name," Khaleda said.
Without mentioning anyone's name, the opposition leader said 'it is clear who is linked with the BDR mutineers'.
Khaleda Zia blasted Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed 'for not taking any initiative to save his officers in the BDR headquarters during the massacre'.
The BNP chief said the December 29, 2008 general election pushed the country into a deeper crisis, as the desire of the public turned into disappointments within three months of the election.
The opposition chief said the armed forces were not behind 'the evil deeds and the injustices committed during the immediate past caretaker government', whom the BNP chief blamed for 'destroying the country'.
"The border security force BDR was engaged in businesses and shopping in a bid to control prices of essentials," Khaleda said.
"Recently we observed with pain the long-term serious bad effect that mockery had on the force," Khaleda said.
The BNP chief harshly criticised former president Iajuddin Ahmed, accusing him of violating the country's constitution by postponing the January 22, 2007 election, and by appointing Fakhruddin Ahmed as the chief of the immediate past caretaker government.
She also accused Iajuddin, who was appointed as the president by the last BNP-led government, of not keeping his presidential oath.
"He should have resigned, if he had failed to perform his duty," Khaleda said.
Khaleda urged the House not to pass any thanks giving motion on the former president's speech.
