PM quips on new alliance: Corrupt people have come together to fight corruption

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman are convicted in graft cases, and Greater National Unity alliance leaders Dr Kamal Hossain and AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury have united with corrupt people—to fight against corruption.

“Getting together with all such corrupt persons, Kamal Hossain and Badruddoza Chowdhury will fight corruption now. Manna will also fight,” she quipped while addressing a civic reception accorded to her on Sunday. 

 The USA chapter of Awami League organized the reception at Hilton Hotel in New York, reports UNB.

The alliance, named Greater National Unity, was initiated by AQM Badruddoza-led Juktofront and Dr Kamal Hossain’s Gono Forum on September 15. 

Sheikh Hasina said: “Khaleda Zia has been convicted for embezzling orphans’ money while Tarique Rahman [is accused] in the 10-truck arms-haul case and a corruption case.”

She further said former caretaker government adviser Mainul Hosein, who was ‘convicted’ in the Kakrail land dispute case, has also joined them.

Additionally, Sheikh Hasina said, Barrister Moudud Ahmed – who received former President HM Ershad's clemency after being convicted in a corruption case and lost his Gulshan house for illegally occupying it – is also with them.

Criticizing Dr Muhammad Yunus, the prime minister said: he did not quit the post of Managing Director at Grameen Bank despite winning the Nobel Prize. “Now he is rich, providing loans to the poor at a high interest rate.”

Dr Yunus made the World Bank suspend its financing of the Padma Bridge with the help of his friend Hillary Clinton, she said, adding: “After my arrest during the caretaker government, he [Dr Yunus] awarded double A plus Mark to the Iajuddin-led government.”

“Now all these people – an interest taker [Shudkhor], a bribe-taker, one plunderer and a killer involved in the 21 August killing attempt – are now together on a single platform,” the prime minister said.

Referring to Juktofront, Hasina said: “Why will they have to oust the government? What’s the reason? What did we leave undone for the country? All sectors have seen huge developments...these [developments] have been possible only because of Awami League.” 

Referring to Dr Kamal, Hasina said a noted person did the politics of Awami League in the past, and then went out to form party of his own, but failed.

“Since he couldn’t develop a party, they all are now on the same platform. Who’s he? My uncle Kamal Hossain. He got together with Badu Kaka [uncle]of BNP's Tarique Zia—who was forced to run away along the rail line being chased when he came out Bangabhaban,” she said.

The Prime Minister said: “Mahmudur Rahman Manna was elected President and Secretary of Dhaka University Central Student Union, again and again, as he had been in the good books of Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad.” 

The prime minister however said: “I would like to want to welcome them as they’ve been able to come under one platform at least. Let them do it. Let them join the election. If people cast their votes for them, they’ll come to power. I’ve no problem because I’ve no desire to have anything.”

Noting that there are both merits and demerits of social networking sites and digital devices, the prime minister said her government passed the Digital Security Bill to prevent the bad impacts of the sites and devices.

Blasting journalists for criticizing the bill, she said, “The journalists only think about their own interests, but they don’t consider the social problems caused by the digital devices.” 

Sheikh Hasina focused on socio-economic uplift and the development of numerous sectors. 

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, MP also spoke at the occasion. Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Ministry Dr Dipu Moni were, present—among others. 

US Awami League President Siddiqur Rahman presided over the program.