Vested quarters out to destroy democracy

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said vested quarters are out to destroy the country’s democracy only for their personal gains.

“They [vested quarters] are repeatedly claiming that there is no democracy in the country …. they are trying to destroy the country’s democratic system for their personal gains,” she said.

The PM made the remarks while delivering her introductory speech at the AL National Committee, comprising of presidents and secretaries of 78 organising districts and central AL committee members, at the Gono Bhaban.

She claimed that there is no one who could uphold the democratic rights of the people except the AL. “Let me ask them, where is the dearth of democracy.”

Hasina, also the ruling AL president, said the vested quarters think that vote rigging, terrorism and militancy, which were very much normal during the BNP-Jamaat regime, are the synonyms of democracy.

“I believe that power of the people is the biggest strength; trust and confidence of the people are the biggest strength.”

Hasina said as the AL has been in power for 14 years and the democratic process continues in the country, Bangladesh has achieved tremendous development and is acclaimed as a role model of development in the world.

She mentioned that all powers were in the cantonment during the regimes of Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia.

“The country was ruled from the cantonment, then where was the democracy or power of the people,” she questioned.

The PM said the country has been able to advance massively as the government is running it with the spirit of the Liberation War.