Cases filed against BNP men as they committed crimes: PM

Responding to BNP's allegation that they are facing too many cases, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that cases were filed as they had committed such crimes. She said those who burnt people to death in the name of movement must be punished.

"The criminals of such crimes would surely get punished while Khaleda Zia would also have to get punishment as their order givers," she said, adding the government would continue with the trial of such misdeeds in accordance with the law.

The prime minister was addressing a civic reception accorded to her by expatriate Bangladeshis at the Hotel Grand Hyatt here last night.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said the BNP is now shedding tears that they have no scope to do politics in the country. "But my question is that who would pay the price when a politician fails to take a proper decision in time," she said.

"Nowadays they're (BNP) shedding tears here and there that they couldn't get any space ... who would get them such space as she (Khaleda) kept herself in her office for 92 days and burnt people to death," she said.

The premier said Khaleda Zia is fortunate that she was not arrested at that time and it was needed that time to put her behind the bars, adding this could also save some lives.

US Awami League President Dr Siddiqur Rahman gave the address of welcome, while PM's ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM's Energy Adviser Dr Tawfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Dipu Moni and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam were present, among others on the dais.

The premier said that cases were lodged against those BNP-Jamaat terrorists who were engaged in arson attacks, killing and burning people to deaths to foil the January 5 election and again in 2015 in the name of movements.

"Why not cases would be filed against those who are directly involved in such crimes, their order givers and their financiers ... we can't receive them with garland," she said.

Sheikh Hasina called upon the expatriate Bangladeshis in the USA to project their real status, the overall development of Bangladesh and the socioeconomic development before the local elected representatives here as like ambassadors of Bangladesh so that none could conduct any propaganda against the country.

She said that the character of BNP-Jamaat would never change as they had always resorted to corruption and money laundering.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said that the high-ups of BNP-Jamaat amassed wealth through corruption and money laundering as well as conducting propaganda against the government and lobbying in various areas with such illegal fund.

The prime minister took a swipe at Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia for rehabilitating the killers of Bangabandhu in many ways betraying with the huge blood-shed of millions of martyrs.

She said although it was unfortunate that one convicted criminal is now in the USA and one in Canada, two in Pakistan, "We're continuing our efforts and hopefully we'll be able to execute those convicted killers after bringing them home."

Listing various steps and achievements of her government over the last seven years in different socioeconomic sectors, the prime minister said that now around 78 percent of people is getting electricity, and that day is not far long when electricity would reach the doorsteps of the common people.

Sheikh Hasina also renewed her vow to turn Bangladesh into a hunger and poverty-free middle income country by 2021 and a prosperous developed country by 2041. "Bangladesh is moving ahead and Insha Allah Bangladesh would continue to move," she said.