Bangladesh News

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday in parliament accused the BNP-Jamaat alliance of hatching a conspiracy to increase prices of essentials “using the money they looted while in power”.

She claimed the BNP-Jamaat alliance has decided not to allow the government run the country smoothly.

“BNP-Jamaat alliance is spending their looted money to increase the prices of essentials. Thousands of crore of taka are now in their hands and it does not matter to them if they spend Tk 1,000 crore for this purpose,” the premier said.

“They are not concerned with people’s sufferings due to price hike of essentials. Their only aim is to undermine the Awami League government,” Hasina said while making the concluding speech on the thanksgiving motion on the president’s address.

Hasina’s archrival Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia did not take part in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion. She was absent yesterday. However, the BNP-led opposition lawmakers were present in the House when the premier delivered her speech.

On the power situation, the premier acknowledged people’s unbearable sufferings caused by acute shortage of power and gas. “I can feel the sufferings of people. But what can we do? They [the BNP-led government] did not add a single megawatt of power even though they spent thousands of crore of taka. Electric poles are everywhere without electricity,” she said.

She said they could not explore gas due to their corruption. Housewives now do not have gas to cook food with and power generation is being hampered due to shortage of gas.

“People are now suffering for their [BNP-Jamaat alliance's] misdeeds. But they are now blaming us for people’s sufferings,” she added.

She, however, said her government has taken massive initiatives to increase generation of power and exploration of gas to meet the growing demand. She said her government has moved to purchase a three-dimensional rig for Bapex so that it can explore gas itself.

Hasina, also the ruling Awami League chief, claimed that BNP-Jamaat alliance is out to frustrate this government in every step. They demanded the government’s resignation before it completed one year, she added.

“We have done more than what is possible in a year,” she said.

She said the three dates of birth and celebrating birthday on August 15, the day the father of the nation was murdered, testifies the depraved mentality of a person.

“People will have to realise who wants to bring reign of killing. It is usual that they will try to increase prices of essentials artificially and cause sufferings to people,” she asserted.

Hasina said her government brought down the price of rice to Tk 18 per kg and later it rose to Tk 22 per kg. “If BNP comes to power, the price of rice would jump to Tk 80 per kg,” she said.

In her one-hour-long speech, she portrayed the “misrule” of the last BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government and held them responsible for the emergency rule.

Speaking about the crackdown on politicians during the caretaker government rule, Hasina said Khaleda Zia was ready to leave the country in consultation with the caretaker government. She claimed she has a document that says Khaleda Zia managed foreign currency worth Tk 1 crore for leaving the country. “I strongly protested the caretaker government’s move to send her abroad forcefully,” she claimed.

She also described her government’s efforts in various sectors.

“We will build a developed and prosperous digital Bangladesh by 2021, which will be free from misrule, corruption and militancy,” the premier said.

The speaker put the motion, piloted by Chief Whip Abdus Shahid, on for vote. The BNP-led opposition lawmakers voted (voice votes) against the motion.

With the support of the treasury bench lawmakers, the House passed the motion giving thanks to President Zillur Rahman for his speech delivered on January 4.

The speaker adjourned the sitting until 5:00pm Sunday.