Hasina blames govt for harassing people
Referring to D-8 summit in Dhaka, Hasina, also the chief of Awami League, said leaders of 44 countries including then President of South Africa Nelson Mandela and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat attended the summit, but her government did not harass any people in the name of security measures.
She condemned the government for arresting AL leaders and activists in the capital ahead of the summit and urged BNP-Jamaat coalition government to shun the path of repression on the opposition showing security plea.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Hasina was addressing as chief guest a meeting marking the 33rd founding anniversary of Awami Jubo League at Rangpur Circuit House ground in the morning.
The meeting was presided over by Jubo League Chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanok.
The AL chief said the alliance government failed to create job opportunities for thousands of educated youths in the country whereas the AL government from 1996 to 2001 provided 16 lakh youths with financial assistance and training on different trades.
"The BNP-led coalition government has made unemployed youths terrorists instead of giving them employment to lead a dignified life," she added.
Later in the afternoon, Hasina visited Kolkond union under Gangachara and Modhupur union under Baderganj upazilas in Rangpur.
Addressing a public meeting at Abdus Samad High School ground at Gangachara, she said the government has decorated the capital spending cores of taka in the name of Saarc summit when thousands of monga-hit people in the northern districts are passing days in starvation.
Hasina alleged that the BNP-Jamaat leaders are busy in siphoning money by raising the price of all essentials.
She said the farmers are incurring losses as they do not get the real price of their products in the wake of higher price of inputs including fertilisers, electricity and diesel.
Hasina has been in Rangpur on a five-day tour in the monga-hit northern districts.
Today she will visit Fulchhari upazila in Gaibandha district and leave for Dhaka in the afternoon.