Opposition’s Oct 25 threat rubbish: Hasina

Describing the opposition’s threat over the October 25 rallies as “rubbish”, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the Eid day said there was nothing to be worried about it.
“There’s no scope to escalate tension over October 25 and the opposition’s threat to create something unusual is just nonsense,” she said while talking to reporters after exchanging Eid greetings with people at her official residence Gono Bhaban.
Both the opposition and ruling alliances called for their respective rallies in an apparent bid to stage showdowns in the capital on October 25 at the last phase of the current government’s tenure.
Hasina said what would happen after October 25 is clearly written in the constitution. “Anyone can get a clear idea about it if s/he goes through the articles 123, 72 and 57 of the charter.”
Responding to a volley of questions from journalists, she said the parliament session could continue until the election schedule was announced by the Election Commission.
Hasina also said there would be no anarchy in the country unless the opposition leader created it.
In this connection, the premier referred to the recent remarks of an opposition stalwart asking its leaders and workers to come out with machetes and axes on October 25, she said such threats in broad day light to people was very unfortunate for the whole nation.
“Calling upon the party workers to come out with sharp weapons to kill people is very unfortunate, I just cannot understand why people will kill people,” said the premier, urging people to resist such heinous acts by the opposition.
In this connection, Hasina mentioned that there had been some recent signs of attempts to create anarchy in the country, including an unwanted incident in a madrasa in Chittagong.
Hasina said little children had gone to the madrasa to attain education on their religion. “Why will these little children be pushed towards the wrong path?” she said.
Responding to a question about the opposition leader’s threat to boycott and resist the next election, the prime minister asked why the opposition leader would not participate in the election if she believed in democracy and the voting rights of people.
In this regard, Sheikh Hasina said the elections that took place under the current government were very much peaceful, neutral and acceptable to all, and no one could raise any question about these elections.
“Is she (Khaleda) fearing defeat in the election? Will she boycott the election for that?” Hasina asked.
She also questioned the intention of the opposition leader to go to power in ways other than by participating in the election. “If she boycotts the election what is the other way to go to power!”
The prime minister also said it was the nature of the opposition leader to look for an alternative path to go to power.
In this connection, Hasina said the 1/11 was created by the opposition and the people of the country had suffered a lot at that time.
Talking about the scope of holding dialogues between the ruling and the opposition parties, she said the door for holding talks was always open. “If they put forward any proposal, surely there will be a dialogue,” she said.
The prime minister also requested the opposition to come to the parliament, place their adjournment motion and hold the dialogue there.
Earlier, in the morning, the Awami League leaders greeted the prime minister with a bouquet. The premier then started exchanging greetings with people.
People from all strata gathered at Gono Bahban to exchange Eid greetings with the prime minister. Some of them were seen sharing their problems with the prime minister and the prime minister asked her staff to look into the matters.
She also exchanged greetings with diplomats, judges and civil and military high officials.