Hasina wants polls by April-May

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Detained former prime minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated her call for an election by April-May, and said a representative government is urgently needed to run the country fairly and mitigate sufferings of the people.

She said a state of emergency cannot continue for an indefinite period.

She was talking to her lawyers and relatives in a makeshift courtroom on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises after proceedings in a graft case against her were adjourned till February 13.

The Special Court-1 ordered the adjournment following a petition by the prosecution seeking time to prepare for hearing on charge-framing in the case.

Earlier on February 3, the hearing was rescheduled following a defence petition.

The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against AL chief and six others on September 2 last year for graft in awarding the contracts for barge-mounted power plants in Khulna.

“A government cannot run without people’s representation. A representative government is an urgent need,” said Hasina, visibly in high spirits.

Fresh from a victory with the High Court (HC) quashing her trial in the Tk 2.99 crore extortion case, she greeted her counsels with roses.

“It would be better if the election is held by April/May,” she said adding, “The first thing I demand is an immediate election. I want people to be allowed to exercise their right to vote.”

She observed, “The emergency rule has its limitations and just cannot go on and on.”

Expressing satisfaction over the High Court ruling that also adjudged illegal the government’s having the extortion case under the emergency power rules, she said it has in fact upheld the constitution.

“The constitution comes before everything else. What is there in the constitution must be obeyed and laws contradicting those are bound to be [declared] void,” Hasina said, citing constitutional articles enshrining different rights of the people.

“The emergency law must be in line with the constitution,” she noted.

“We have brought this government to power through movement. And now it is bypassing the constitution at will and harassing people by filing false cases,” she continued.

“If there is no extraneous pressure and bias, I will win in every case,” the AL chief said, maintaining her innocence.

She said it was during her rule when for the first time the country had electricity generated in private sector.

“There is no question of corruption. Being involved in corruption, one cannot take such a good decision so fast to solve the problems confronting the people,” she continued.

“And now cases are being filed on the basis of lies. Sometimes those in power forget that Allah is omnipresent.”

Mentioning rice selling at Tk 40 a kg, she said, “When the price stays at Tk 40, the government cannot say it is stable. The thing is, it has gone out of people’s reach.”

“There seems no end to people’s sufferings. They are hungry and facing acute hardship. The children will suffer from malnutrition in the coming days,” said Hasina.

She said she wonders how voter listing takes so long when it did not take more than nine months even to liberate the country.

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