ZCZC
BSS-05
HASAN-KHALEDA-BNP-RELEASE
Street campaign can’t be means to free Begum Zia: Hasan
DHAKA, Feb 8, 2020 (BSS)- Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today
reiterated that there is no way of freeing BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia
through movement or street campaigns, saying victory in legal way could be
the only path to release her from jail.
“BNP is virtually showing disrespect to the law and the court as well by
repeatedly raising demand to the government for releasing Begum Zia,” he
said, addressing a meeting at an auditorium of Jatiya Press Club here.
Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote (BSJ) organized the meeting marking the birth
centenary of Father of the Nation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and
the ‘Mubib Borsho’ with BSJ president and eminent actress Sarah Begum Kabori
in the chair.
Awami League Office Secretary and Prime Minister’s Special Assistance
Barrister Biplob Barua addressed the discussion as the key speaker while BSJ
general secretary Arun Sarker Rana conducted it.
Hasan said BNP today called for rallies demanding their chief Begum Khaleda
Zia’s release. “The BNP chief is in prison being convicted in a graft case
and only the court can release her. And the government has no jurisdiction to
release her, he added.
The minister said “The government has no jurisdiction to release her
(Khaleda Zia) from prison . . . the matter pertains to the court,” he added.
He said today’s rally goes against the court. “I think the court will take
proper step,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
Referring to the trials of Pakistani leader Nawaz Sharif and Indian leader
Joyalalita, Hasan said their parties didn’t wage any movement against the
decisions of courts.
The minister said they (BNP) always created anarchy in the name of
movement and assaulted the common people and vandalized vehicles. Even,
untoward incidents took place while they (BNP) held rallies for the release
of Begum Khaleda Zia, he added.
About BNP leaders’ allegations on the two city corporation polls held
recently, he said the polls were held absolutely in a transparent manner.
About BNP’s complaints on using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Hasan
said EVM is a modern technology which was used in the general election in
India and no complaints were raised about it there. Even, EVM was used in the
USA in receiving votes, he added.
“I cannot understand why BNP opposes the use of this modern technology in
elections. BNP always opposes modern technology because it has a phobia about
any new modern technology,” he said.
Blasting BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury for his comment on selling
EVMs, the minister said they (BNP) have the habit of selling machines. “BNP
had sold machines of many factories after shutting those down, including
Adamjee Jute Mills, during their regime,” he added.
About another comment of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the minister said
many government offices, like autonomous and semi-government offices have
deposited their surplus money to scheduled banks and this money would not add
to the country’s economy. From now, the organizations will deposit their
surplus money into the government sector after keeping their all expenses, he
added.
But, he said, BNP doesn’t understand this matter and expressed their silly
opinions. “I want to urge BNP leaders to criticize the government works
constructively, not blindly,” Hasan added.
He said Bangladesh is moving ahead indomitably to fulfill the dream of
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under the dynamic
leadership of his worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh has already graduated to a middle-income country from the least
developing one, said Hasan, adding that the country has gained remarkable
progress in many socioeconomic indexes, including human development index,
and achieved GDP growth higher than other countries in the last 11 years.
The minister said Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan in all indexes and even
surpassed India in many social indicators. “After the independence, the
Pakistanis expressed suspicion that Bangladesh would not survive for long but
now Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan in all indicators. It has been possible
only for the outstanding leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he
added.
Paying rich tributes to Bangabandhu, Hasan said after the Liberation War,
Bangabandhu was taking ahead the war-ravaged country towards economic
progress. When, the architect of independent Bangladesh was assassinated in
1975, the GDP growth rate was 7.4 per cent, he said.
“We can exceed the growth rate of 7.4 per cent in 2017-18 fiscal year after
four decades of assassination of Bangabandhu. Had the great leader remained
alive, Bangladesh would have exceeded Singapore and Malaysian in economic
growth many years ago,” Hasan said.
AL leader Advocate Boloram Poddar, BSJ vice president and eminent singer
Rafiqul Alam, it’s joint general secretary Tarin Jahan and actress Sahanur,
among others, addressed the meeting.
BSS/Asg/PSB/KU/ 1515 hrs