Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday disclosed that she was offered a hassle-free reelection in the January 7 polls provided she allowed a foreign country to establish an air base in Bangladesh territory.
“The offer came from a white-skinned man,” she said while delivering her introductory speech at the 14-party meeting held at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She mentioned that the BNP has conspired to prevent elections from being held in Bangladesh.
“But they (BNP) would have done that. If I allowed some country to set up an air base in Bangladesh, then I would have no problem,” she said.
She noted that she gave the same response as she did in 2001 when the United States offered to sell Bangladesh gas to India.
“I clearly said that I am the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We won our Liberation War, and I don't want to come to power by renting part of the country or handing it over to another country. I don't need power,” she said. She emphasised that if the people want her in power, she will
come to power. If not, she will not.
“I am saying this because everyone should know,” she added.
The prime minister said that she
faces challenges both at home and abroad.
“The conspiracy is still ongoing,” she stated.
She mentioned that there is a conspiracy to turn Bangladesh into another East Timor.
“Like East Timor...they will create a Christian country taking a part of Bangladesh (Chattogram) and Myanmar with a base in the Bay of Bengal,” she said.
She noted that trade and commerce have been ongoing through the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean since ancient times.
“Many have their eyes on this place. There is no controversy here, no conflict. I won't let that happen. This is also one of my crimes (in their eyes),” she said.
Hasina questioned which country would be targeted from the proposed air base.
“It may appear it is aimed at only one country, but it is not. I know where else they intend to go,” she said.
She stated that this is why the Awami League government is always in trouble.
“There will be more trouble. But don't worry about it. The people of the country are our strength. If the people are with us, we will stay in power,” she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also said she would have been happy to see the inflation go further down.
“If inflation can be reduced now, people would be relieved. Production is sufficient. There is no shortage,” she said.
She said that inflation is a problem now. “It's not just Bangladesh, I saw American economic reports and inflation is a big problem there too,” she said.
Hasina said that foreign exchange reserves of many countries are decreasing, including Bangladesh.
She said that business, trade, communication, import and export were all closed during Coronavirus pandemic.
“Money could not be sent from outside through hundi, so the money came through the banking channel, so our reserves had increased at that time” she said.
She mentioned that the expenditure started to increase when everything resumed after the pandemic.
“There is no need to worry about reserves if there is food stock during time of emergency” she said.
She admitted that she has made people so much aware of reserves talking about it.
“Everyone talks about reserves, talks about GDP, it is a good sign," she told the meeting.
Regarding the increase in the price of products, the prime minister said that there are many games behind it.
“Today I saw that eggs are being preserved where potatoes used to be preserved in the cold storages. Eggs should not be kept in potato cold stores. Such incidents are happening in Bangladesh,” she said.
Pointing out that the country should keep its achievements and move forward, the prime minister said that Bangladesh should be built in the spirit of the Liberation War.
“If we do not plan for the future, we will not be able to take the country forward.” she said.
The prime minister said those who opposed the liberation war have not changed even a bit.
“This is reality and we have to face it and move on,” she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also categorically said no one will be spared if found involved in arson attacks and burning people.
“Those who will resort to arson attacks and burning people must not be spared. Whatever they do, whichever big brother they convince, we will not spare them. It is clear. Our actions will continue against those who will cause damage to people,” she said.
She said that grenade attackers, ten trucks arms smugglers and corrupts are taking the advantage of digital Bangladesh and are threatening to oust the government everyday from abroad.
“There will be no welfare of the people of this country without the pro-liberation forces in the power,” she said.
Hasina said that as long as the people are by their side she does not care about those threats.
“Remain alert that the country must not stop its march towards advancement. I am sure that no one will be able to do that as people are our power,” she said.
She urged all pro-liberation forces to be better organised to go to the people to imbue them with the spirit of the Liberation War.
