As election nears, PM tells lies in name of religion
"When a election approaches, the PM begins telling lies in the name of religion against the AL and the '72 Constitution," Hasina said while addressing a discussion at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the city.
Dhaka Lawyers' Association organised the discussion marking the National Mourning Day on August 15 when the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with almost all of his family members were assassinated.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Referring to PM's speech in Barisal that Bismillah (in the name of Almighty Allah) will not exist and Azan (call for prayers) will not be heard if AL is voted to power, Hasina said it is not the AL, rather the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance that stopped Azan during the speech of PM in parliament in recent years.
While Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman banned alcohol and gambling, BNP's founder Ziaur Rahman gave licence for alcohol and gambling, the AL chief said, adding that the PM's two sons have been operating Marshal Distillery Alcohol Factory and the Industry Minister and Jamaat Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami gave the licence for the factory.
Hasina said the PM has been spreading falsehood as her government looted thousands of crores of taka through wide scale corruption and hiking up price through syndication by her two sons.
"Does Islam allow bribe or to become the owner of black money or to resort to corruption?" Hasina asked Khaleda.
The PM has been inaugurating different projects as bribe for the upcoming election, Hasina said, adding that those projects were taken during the previous AL regime.
She said the alliance government had pledged to separate the judiciary from the executive but they did not do that.
Instead, they violated the highest court's directives in this regard, she added.
The AL president said ignoring the recommendation of the chief justice, the government has appointed judges as part of its politicisation of the judiciary.
Hasina said the PM has taken steps to print the country's Constitution omitting the proclamation paper on War of Liberation.
If this proclamation paper is omitted, then the foundation of the country is denied, the AL chief said, adding that Khaleda is so greedy for power that she (PM) has compromised with the 'killer' of her husband.
Hasina alleged that by withdrawing corruption cases, the PM says she has stopped corruption and by placing wreaths for a criminal who killed a police official she says she has stopped criminal activities.
Addressing the discussion, eminent jurist and Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain said the BNP-Jamaat alliance has destroyed the country's parliament, judiciary, and Constitution as part of their evil design.
Dr Kamal, also president of Jatiya Oikya Mancha, said 35000 lawyers will fight against the misrule of the government to form an accountable government and to separate the judiciary from the executives.
Association President Mohammad Nuruzzaman Nani chaired the discussion which was addressed by AL Presidium Member Zillur Rahman, Vice-chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Amir-Ul-Islam, Advocate Shahara Khatun and Mohammad Israfil.