News Desk :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the US can topple government in any country if it wants.
“It (US) has the power to topple the government in any country and particularly the Muslim countries. As long as they were controlling over Islamic countries, nothing happened. However, after the Russia-Ukraine war, the entire world is now in the grip of economic recession. This is the reality,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina made the remarks, joining the discussion on a motion placed by her in the House, marking the 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of the Bangladesh National Parliament. This was also her valedictory speech in the 22nd session of the current parliament, report news agencies.
The prime minister questioned the democracy and human rights situation in the US. She said: “A few days ago, three congressmen in the US state of Tennessee applied for gun control. They held a demonstration to stop the killing of children by gunfire and shootings. That was their crime.”
“Two people were expelled from Congress for this crime – Justice John and Justice Pearson. One survived because he is white,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said: “In America, it is seen almost every day, people enter schools with weapons and shoot children and teachers, enter shopping malls and clubs and shoot there as well.”
Sheikh Hasina in her speech also highlighted the US position on Bangladesh and not returning of Bangabandhu’s murderer.
The prime minister said: “Rashed (Rashed Chowdhury), who is a killer of the August 15 massacre, has taken refuge in America. I have appealed to all the presidents who have been elected there as well as taken legal measures to get his back to country. Instead, they are giving refuge to him and other such criminals.
“They speak against corruption but in reality, they are advocating on behalf of those convicted in corruption,” she added.
bdnews adds: The US does not practise its democratic norms beyond the Atlantic, said Hasina. “Does the definition of democracy change when it comes to the [countries on the other side of the Atlantic]? Why are you supporting a military dictator? I raised this question earlier and I’m raising it again,” she said.
The US lectures Bangladesh on democracy to the cheers of the opposition parties, she said. “They are lecturing us on democracy and human rights. What’s the situation in their country?” “It has the power to topple the government in any country and the Muslim countries, in particular, are experiencing a tough time.”
“They are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not have a democratic existence. It’ll be an undemocratic action. Some of our intellectuals, who live on selling their intellect, just keep licking the boots of those [corrupt people] only for a little money.”
UNB adds: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday came down heavily on the Prothom Alo saying that the Bengali language daily is the enemy of her ruling Awami League party, democracy and the people of the country.
“The name of the paper is Prothom Alo (first light), but it lives in darkness. Prothom Alo is the enemy of Awami League, democracy and the people of the country,” she told the parliament.
The premier made the remarks, joining the discussion on a motion placed by her in the House, marking the 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of the Bangladesh National Parliament. This was also her valedictory speech in the 22nd session of the current parliament.
She said the newspaper asked a 7-year old child to tell a lie, handing him Tk 10. They recorded his remark –‘We want freedom of rice, fish and meat’— and published it.
“I am very sorry to say that they never want the stability to remain in this country,” she said.
Hasina said the newspaper was very glad in 2007 when the emergency was declared and two newspapers got engaged wholeheartedly.
In an obvious reference to Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, she said, “A loan shark was with them (the newspapers). He is very a favourite person of the USA.”
The PM said the USA never raised the question how this person, who was the managing director of Grameen Bank, a statutory firm, got millions of dollars.
“He (Dr Yunus) runs social business in a place like the USA and makes investments at home and abroad. Did they (the USA) ever want to know from where the MD, who used to draw salary from the government, got millions of dollars? They didn’t” she said.
“Now we have to hear words (lesson) from them about corruption and the fight against corruption. And about human rights,” she said.
These people (Dr Yunus and others) tried to destroy democracy in this country and played ducks and drakes with the fate of the people.