Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina Sunday made a strongly worded call for allowing politicians to do politics and intelligence agencies to maintain state security, reports UNB.
"It is not their (intelligence) duty to break and build political parties-leave it to the people," she said while talking to reporters at the Lab Aid Hospital where she went to see prominent singer Sabina Yasmin, who is suffering from cancer.
"In a civilised society and in a democratic system, intelligence cannot control everything," said the AL chief, who, as also chiefs other political parties, is reportedly under pressure, for party reform in the changed context.
In an oblique reference to the main tenor of the talk of the day about political reforms, she said the people should be allowed to decide who will lead the party and who come to power.
Hasina further alleged: "They are arresting political leaders, torturing and forcing them to say whatever they like. This can't be accepted."
Referring to the recent statements by detained political leaders, Hasina observed being afraid of a certain agency people could say many things.
"Everyone will have to abide by the constitution. The defiance of the constitution did not bring good in the past, and wouldn't bring good in future either," she told the reporters.
Hasina said people's problems cannot be resolved without a democratically elected government. "If an unconstitutional and unelected government stays in power for along, the problems get deepened."
The beleaguered former prime minister said she wanted to see the progress made by the Election Commission in last six months.
She observed that democracy would not be established if one works keeping in head the matter of installing someone or some forces in power. "If works are being done with preconceived ideas, it will have no accountability," she said.
In her first long-drawn fiery political statement under the current state of emergency, Hasina alleged arresting and forcing political leaders to say whatever they like is the violation of human rights.
"What situation is now prevailing in the country where an intelligence agency is torturing, giving electric shock and harassing politicians' family members," she fulminated.
"If corruption is proved, then punish them. But how come you will harass their wives and children…In what country we are living where minor daughter of Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku was arrested?" the AL president asked.
Carrying on her tirade, Hasina said it is not the intelligence agency's duty to break and build political parties. "How much budget was allocated for them to break and build political parties I want to know. Is this budget for paying the bill of Chang Pei restaurant? It will have to be seen if any corruption is happening in this sector," she said.
The AL president said the people have not given permission to this certain agency "to make politics and to break and build political parties".
Hasina stated that none would be permitted to play with people's fate and demanded of the caretaker government to stop this 'hide-and-seek game'.
Referring to detained Abdul Jalil's statement against her, the AL president said political leaders are giving statements for fear of "DGFI beatings" and that such a statement has no importance.
"I told my leaders and workers anything they can tell against me, and what the agency wants, for escape from the beating by this intelligent agency and to save their lives," she said and demanded stopping these activities.
Terming the present caretaker government as the fruit of the movement of the AL-led 14-party alliance, she said they had fought and launched movement for establishing people's voting right and ensuring a free and fair election.
"But, I want to know, what the caretaker government has done in the last six months for holding national elections…It can't prepare a voter list and make transparent ballot boxes. Now it seems that a conspiracy is being hatched to snatch people's mandate again," Hasina alleged.
The AL chief criticised the incumbent caretaker government for failing to bring down the price of essentials and asked why the caretaker regime doesn't control the prices when the previous Awami League government had tackled market successfully.
About the reform proposals made by three AL senior leaders, Hasina said, "Party will decide what kind of reform would be carried out. If necessary, leaders will place their reform proposals with the working committee."
She reminded that party leaders had elected her party chief during her absence for the interest of the party. "I never hanker after any post and money in my life," Hasina claimed.
It's not intelligence agency's duty to break political parties: Hasina
FE Team | Published: July 09, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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