Return to path of normal movement, PM tells BNP

GAZIPUR, May 2 (UNB): Apparently holding BNP responsible for unleashing the recent secret killings, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday called upon the BNP chief to shun the movement of clandestine attacks and return to the path of normal movement.
"Why the country's people including farmers, workers and youths should pay the price for her (Khaleda Zia) mistake of not joining the last general election. She (Khaleda) should better go to her lords from whom she took advice," Hasina said.
Hasina was addressing a mammoth May Day rally of workers organised by Jatiya Sramik League at Bhawal Badare Alam University College ground in Gazipur.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Hoque, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, AL Joint General Secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Organising Secretary Ahmad Hossain, State Minister for Jute and Textiles Mirza Azam, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, Gazipur District Council Administrator Akhtaruzzaman, Jatiya Sramik League Executive President Fazlul Haque Mantu, Krishak League President Motahar Hossain Mollah, Jubo Mohila League President Nazma Akhtar and Chhatra League President HM Badiuzzaman Sohag, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Jatiya Sramik League President Alhaj Shukkur Mahmud presided over the rally.
Thousands of people, including workers carrying colourful banners, festoons and AL's symbol 'boat' from adjoining industrial areas --Tongi, Ashulia, Savar-joined the rally.
Referring to a recent remark of a BNP leader to wage a guerrilla movement to topple the government, the Awami League president said. "Those who grab power through killings, coups and conspiracies, believe in the politics of clandestine attacks and they are continuing to unleash such acts."
In this connection, Hasina said that there was no doubt that the same quarter was responsible for all the recent secret attacks and killings. The Prime Minister called upon the people of the country to remain alert against those who wanted to wage a movement through secret attacks and secret killings. "Bangladesh had been turned into a den of terrorism, militancy and corruption during the misrule of BNP-Jamaat. But, after assuming office, AL has turned Bangladesh as a role model of development."
Continuing her scathing attack on the BNP chairperson, Hasina alleged that Khaleda Zia did never believe in the country's independence and so she had passed indecent comments over the 'Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla' programme, an event where the national anthem was sung by over 2.50 lakh people at the National Parade Square on March 26.
"She (Khaleda) doesn't like the country's flag.....as her heart is filled with Pyare Pakistan. She always want to stay with the defeated forces and want to follow their footsteps," Hasina said adding that the conspirators, militants and corrupt would never be able to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the country's people.
After retaining power for the 2nd consecutive time, the Premier said that the unfinished tasks of the previous term would be implemented during the current tenure and Bangladesh would continue to move ahead.
"AL is an organisation that belongs to the common people, including the farmers and workers, and our goal is to improve their living standards as well as to make their lives meaningful," she said.
She also called upon all to work together so that the cohorts of the anti-liberation forces and the defeated forces of 1971 could never play game with the fate of the country's people.
The AL chief alleged that the BNP-Jamaat wanted to erase the spirit of the War of Liberation from the country, but they won't succeed by the grace of Almighty Allah. "Those who suck the feet of the defeated forces would never find their place on Bangladesh soil."