Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Nobel laureate professor Muhammad Yunus should be dropped in the river Padma.
The prime minister made this remark while addressing a discussion organised marking her homecoming day by relief and social welfare sub-committee of Awami League at its central party office in the capital’s 23, Bangabandhu Avenue.
Joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban as chief guest, Sheikh Hasina said that everybody could remember the election of Falu (Mosaddek Ali Falu) in Dhaka-10, and Magura election for which Khaleda Zia was ousted from power through movement.
Sheikh Hasina said that Nobel laureate professor Muhammad Yunus should be dipped in the river Padma and brought to the bridge constructed over the river.
The Prime Minister alleged that Yunus stopped the World Bank funding for the bridge for holding the post of the managing director of Grameen Bank.
Hasina said Yunus was offered to become ‘emeritus adviser’ of the bank as he was not eligible for holding the position because of his age.
Yunus also filed a case against the government to cling to the position, but the court could not give the verdict in his favour as he was 71 years old, Hasina added.
Hasina said that Khaleda Zia and her associates had also critcised the construction of the Padma Bridge alleging that the bridge was being constructed haphazardly.
They should also be dropped in the river, she added.
Coming down heavily on a section of knowledgeable persons and economists for their unnecessary criticism based on false information regarding the development projects, she said that how they could talk foolish like this and ‘that is my question’.
Sheikh Hasina said this section of people was telling that the government had done a grave mistake by implementing the mega projects, like Rooppoor Nuclear Power Plant and rail-line on Padma Bridge.
‘They feel pain when we do anything for Bangladesh. Why are they still bootlickers of Pakistani military rulers? They don’t see anything good for Bangladesh, they don’t feel good when Bangladesh advances,’ she said.
The prime minister said that the mega projects were for the interest and welfare of the people of Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina said that BNP had been speaking more but where was their leadership. ‘BNP has no leadership at all, all are convicted criminals, it is not possible to win in any election by convicted criminals,’ she added.
She noted that they (BNP) wanted to make the election questionable with the apprehension of defeat in polls.
‘If people do not respond to their (BNP) movement, who will be held responsible for that,’ she questioned.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, asked the ultra learned and knowledgeable-intellectual persons to come and join politics if they have any intention to run the country.
‘Please come in the field, come in the vote, none will snatch your votes, at least we can say we don’t go to snatch votes, rather we (Awami League) get the votes of the people and will get votes as we work for the people,’ she added.
Publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, moderated the discussion from Ganabhaban end.
Later, on behalf of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, MP, handed over sewing machines and other assistance to orphans and destitute peoples.
