BNP's claim of having international support untrue: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today there is no international support in favour of the BNP as the party has already been branded as a forum of looters.

During her introductory speech in the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting at Ganabhaban this evening, the premier urged the countrymen to stay alert against all conspiracies of BNP and Jamaat as they are out to frustrate democracy and destroy the country.

Quader getting fed up with BNP's position over election

Sheikh Hasina, also president of the Awami League, said, "Stay alert against the killers, terrorists, militants, grenade attackers, 10-truck firearms smugglers as they are making all out efforts to destroy the country." 

"Despite the BNP talking about democracy, the party has no faith in democracy," the prime minister said, adding, "BNP only knows how to destroy the country."

People don't believe BNP to be 'anti-Hindu': Fakhrul

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader conducted the meeting.

AL Presidium Members- Deputy Leader of the House Begum Matia Chowdhury,  Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Kazi Zafarullah, were present.

Describing BNP's 1991-96 and 2001-06 as eras of darkness, Sheikh Hasina alerted countrymen that the country will go back to the era of darkness if BNP comes to power.

"The country will go backward if the BNP comes to power," she said.

Sheikh Hasina came down heavily on the BNP for demonstrating to oust the Awami League government and hold election under caretaker government despite being overthrown from power by the people for assuming office through vote rigging.

"How does the BNP talk about the election as it had been ousted from power because of vote rigging?" she posed a question.

The premier said BNP resigned from the government on May 30, 1996 after coming to power through a farcical election on February 15, 1996.

Her party, she said, has protected the country's democracy and they don't need vote rigging to assume power.

"Awami League works for welfare of the country and its people and urged the party leaders to win the hearts of the countrymen. It doesn't require vote rigging for going to power," she said.

The prime minister urged the countrymen to cast their votes in favour of Awami League to confirm the country's developing nation status by 2026.

Brushing aside the BNP's demand of restoration of a neutral caretaker government system, she said, "Why did Khaleda Zia reject the system in 1996, saying only the insane and children are neutral?"

"I want to know whether the BNP was able to find out the insane and children to form the caretaker government," she said.

At the outset of the meeting, one minute of silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage.