Movement, talks simultaneously confusing: PM

Taking a swipe at BNP and Jatiya Oikya Front for announcing programmes for movement when the dialogue is on, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday their dual stance is incomprehensible to her, reports UNB.
"When the dialogue is on, I saw there're programmes for movement. They're holding dialogue on one hand and throwing programmes for movement on the other. What type of dialogue is this! This is not understandable to me and us," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a discussion organised by Bangladesh Awami League at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh, marking the Jail Killing Day.
Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, said she does not understand how the nation and the people of the country will take this stance of BNP and Jatiya Oikya Front.
Sheikh Hasina said she agreed to hold talks just keeping the interests of the people of the country in mind.
"We sat for the dialogue just to let people live in peace, let them cast their votes peacefully and choose the government of their choice," she said.
Hasina further said, "At the end of the dialogue, I just spoke for the sake of winding up the discussion."
The Prime Minister mentioned that the government accepted many demands of the Oikya Front.
The Prime Minister said the government wants a fair election in the country with the participation of all parties so that the people of the country never face arson attacks and burning incidents again. "We want the election to be free and fair, and it'll be fair, there's no doubt about it as AL is in power."
She said more than 6,000 of elections have been held at various levels in the last five years under the AL government and no one could raise any question about the elections.
Hasina mentioned that the ruling party candidates were defeated in five city corporation elections at a time. "We never interfered because people are the owners of their votes. They'll cast their votes freely and the Election Commission will work independently.
The Prime Minister said the Election Commission was formed through a search committee which was constituted by the President. "The names for forming the Commission were sent to the Committee by every party, including BNP and Awami League. I don't think there's any scope to raise allegations about this Election Commission."
If Awami League retains power, Hasina said the welfare activities unleashed by her government for people will continue.
"If the looters, killers, arson terrorists, patrons of militants and grenade attackers return to power, there'll be no change in the fate of the people of this country. Instead, they'll return to the era of darkness," she said.
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech while members of its Advisory Council Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, Presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Mohammad Nasim, among others, took part in the discussion.
Daughter of Tajuddin Ahmed and member of Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) Simin Hossain Rimi, Dhaka North unit president of AL AKM Rahmatullah and its Dhaka South unit president Abul Hasnat also spoke on the occasion.
AL Publicity Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud and Deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam conducted the programme.
The meeting, chaired by Sheikh Hasina herself, observed one-minute silence in memory of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, martyrs of August 15 and the four national leaders.