Hit back if anyone tries to attack

GBNEWS24DESK//

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday ordered her party leaders and activists to stay vigilant everywhere and hit back if anyone tried to attack them.

“We were beaten up for 21 years since 1975. We were beaten up from 2001 to 2007. This time the hand that wants to beat us will have to be broken. The hand that wants to torch things must be burnt in that same fire. They must be made to feel the pain of burns.”

The PM made the remarks while addressing a joint meeting of the AL and its associate bodies at the AL headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue. She joined virtually from the Gono Bhaban.

“Our leaders and activists should remain prepared in every area so that they cannot resort to torture anymore,” she said, reports BSS.

Hasina said, “The media who are now queuing up [behind the BNP] … so many of the channels … they are here thanks to me … If I hadn’t opened it up, many people would not have had jobs. Many would not have been able to do business too.

“These media would have been taken to task or beaten up if they had written anything against [the then ruling party]. Even then, why so much flattery? I have no idea. I’ll see how servile they can get. Those who are now trying to curry favour with the BNP, we will see to them.”

She said, “During Awami League rule, all businesspeople, irrespective of whether they have Awami League or BNP leanings, are able do business in peace. We did not set up any Hawa Bhaban or Khawa Bhaban. We, rather, gave them opportunities to do business.”

The prime minister said she would execute sentences of the convicted accused Tarique Zia after bringing him back from the United Kingdom.

“I will communicate with the British government to bring Tarique Rahman back. Sentences of Tarique will be executed after bringing him back. I urge the British government to hand over Tarique as he is a fugitive convict.”

Sounding a note of warning, she said all should remember that the Awami League did not come from anyone’s pocket and its existence was deep-rooted as it was established by the Father of the Nation.

“BNP came from the pocket of uniformed military dictator Ziaur Rahman,” she said.

Hasina came down heavily on the BNP leaders for their “crocodile tears” for democracy.

“Talking about democracy doesn’t suit the BNP [leaders] … Zia had given curfew democracy while Khaleda Zia gave corruption. Khaleda has two ‘virtues’, indulging in corruption and killing people,” she added.

The prime minister said power is not meant for enjoying, rather it is for serving the country and its people.