Hasina doubts polls in time

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Detained former prime minister and Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed her apprehension that the election might not be held in time.

“The way the country is being governed, it seems that the general election will not be held in time,” Hasina’s attorney advocate Kamrul Islam quoted her as saying.

Hasina made the remark while talking with her lawyers as she was brought to Special Court-1 of Judge Firoz Alam at 9:45am for the hearing on charge framing in the barge-mounted power plant case against her and seven others.

The hearing on the charge framing of the case was adjourned till April 10.

“There are signs giving the impression that this government will not hold the election,” advocate Kamrul added quoting Hasina.

Regarding the army chief’s service extension by a year, Hasina said, “Let it be extended. How much further can it be extended? Everything has to come to an end.”

Speaking on corruption charges brought against her, especially the barge-mounted power plant case, Hasina told her counsels, “The verdict has already been written and your efforts to face the case legally would definitely go in vain.”

Citing the AL government’s awarding business licences to mobile phone operators Grameen Phone and Aktel, Hasina said she never even have had a cup of tea from the two firms.

Even though she is being taken to the hospital on the pretext of treatment, she is not receiving proper treatment for her ailment, Hasina alleged saying that the condition of her ear and eye is worsening.

Commenting on the spiralling prices of rice, the former premier said, “If the present rice crisis reaches a solution in exchange for my punishment, I would gladly accept any jail term.”

“The present government does not have the capacity or skills to cope with the rice crisis,” she added.

“Our country wasn’t supposed to import rice. Instead, it was supposed to export rice, since we were once self-sufficient in food. People are scrambling for rice and why would that happen in Bangladesh? Why would this country suffer a famine when its land is so fertile?” Hasina said.

Referring to her government’s success in reducing power crisis, Hasina said had her party been elected to power for another term, the power sector would have produced at least 1000 MW of surplus power and even exported it.

The Case Proceedings

The defence lawyers continued making their submission on discharge petition that was submitted on April 3 to the Special Court-1 set up at MP hostel on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises.

The defence lawyers could not complete the submission and will resume on April 10.

In their submission, Hasina’s counsels said their client is being deprived of her legal, constitutional and fundamental rights with the graft case being tried under Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

Barrister Shafique Ahmed said an offence committed prior to the promulgation of EPR cannot be brought under it.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the alleged offence was committed from October 14, 1996 to November 24, 1997. Whereas, the state of emergency was imposed in January last year, said barrister Shafique.

He also added that the constitution does not permit enacting any law that infringes on the fundamental rights of an individual.

“Rules cannot go beyond the limit that its parent law permits,” he said.

The hearing of the court was adjourned earlier on April 3 as Hasina fell sick inside the courtroom.

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