Hasina calls all to unite, oust BNP-Jamaat govt

"Stand by the people and restore their confidence in building a happy and developed nation by removing this corrupt government," she asked her party leaders and workers while inaugurating the biennial conference of the Jatiya Sramik League at Paltan Maidan in the afternoon.

Hasina warned the government of consequences for carrying on repressive measures and implicating her party men in false cases across the country. She also urged workers and employees to get united to protect their own interests.

The Awami League chief accused the government of spreading false propaganda and said "Don't accuse me of tarnishing the image of the country...Rather your corruption, plundering of people's wealth and politicisation of everything -- even the Supreme Court -- have tarnished the country's image abroad."

"How the image of the country could be protected when a ruling BNP MP charged a minister in parliament for taking bribe and the minister in turn accused the MP of grabbing land in Mirpur?" she said.

On appointment of judges, she said the government ignored the recommendations of the chief justice in appointing the judges and "is now trying to make the judiciary like the BNP executive committee."

Criticising Jamaat-e-Islami, a partner of the alliance government, Hasina said Jamaat talks about Islam, but keeps mum when duty on alcohol is reduced. She called upon all to unmask the real face of Jamaat.

Referring to introduction of Moududi's books in madrassahs and schools as textbooks, the opposition leader said people would not tolerate this as, she said, Moududi and Jamaat do not believe in Islam.

To European countries, she said, the present government projected itself as secular, but to the Islamic countries as "followers of Islam". Such falsehood by the alliance government is now clear to all.

About recovery of ammunition and explosives in Bogra, Hasina observed that the ammunition and explosives could not enter the country without government patronisation. She blamed BNP for its involvement in it.

"Even a lunatic will not believe that a union-level poor leader of Krishak League is involved in it," she said and questioned why the government tried to suppress the names of Jamaat men and why police are harassing journalists of ATN and Channel-i, who came up with true reports. "Let the government tell wherein these ammunition were made and where those were being supplied to."

About the government's economic reforms, she said reforms do not mean closing down mills and factories and throwing the workers out of job. She referred to the closing down of Adamjee Jute Mills and sacking of thousands of workers.

Hasina said instead of increasing wages and salaries of the workers and government employees, the alliance government has increased the salary of prime minister, ministers and MPs. She called for bringing down prices of essentials.

Listing the success of her past government, Hasina said the major success of the AL government was in bringing self-sufficiency in food, but BNP had criticised that saying self-sufficiency would stop foreign aid.

Hasina criticised slashing of the Annual Development Budget by Tk 5,000 crore. She said 90 to 95 per cent of the ADP was implemented during the AL time, thus strengthening the country's economy. In the last 21 months this government could not take up any new development project as the people in power are engaged in plundering national wealth, she alleged.

Earlier, Hasina inaugurated the conference by releasing balloons and pigeons. The inaugural function was presided over by Abdus Salam Khan, president of the Jatiya Sramik League and Ahsanullah Master MP read out the report of the general secretary.