Remain alert against undemocratic power capture, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tells professionals

BANGLADESH NEWS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for the continuation of democratic process in the country and urged all to remain vigil so that no one can capture power in the future through undemocratic means.

“Now we'll have to take a decision. We carried out movements on many occasions in the past to restore 

democracy and we've been able to do that. But, democracy faced setbacks several times and you'll have to 

remain vigil so that no one could take power in any undemocratic way in the future,” she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing the newly-elected central executive committee of Professionals 

Coordination Council at her office. Council President Justice AFM Mesbahuddin led the delegation.

PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting.

Hasina said where there is continuation of democratic process there is development.

She said the five-year rule of BNP-Jamaat alliance government and the successive two-year tyrannical period in the name of caretaker government left behind a trail of corruption and mismanagement in the country.

She mentioned that the caretaker government oppressed many teachers, students, businessmen and politicians and filed cases against them.

Mentioning that there has been no delay in holding the trial of war criminals, the premier called upon all, including the professionals, to remain united as ill-efforts are on to protect the war criminals.

She also expressed her strong resolve that democratic process would continue in Bangladesh alongside the efforts to make it a prosperous country.

She also urged the professionals to help publicise the development activities of the government as their working field was very vast.

Hasina mentioned that her government was doing very well compared to many other countries despite the global economic 'recession'.

Turning to BDR mutiny, she said the trial of the mutiny was being held and many of the accused had already been punished although there was a record number of accused.

“The trial of all other sensitive cases like 10-truck arms haul case and August 21 grenade attack case would certainly be held to establish the rule of law in the country,” she added.

The premier mentioned that through the 15th amendment to the constitution, the spirit of the War of Liberation had been restored, people's empowerment ensured and the scope of grabbing state power by undemocratic forces plugged.

Professionals Coordination Council Secretary General Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan, Buet Vice Chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, also spoke on the occasion.