Referring to the countrywide recent havoc and atrocities, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that she had an apprehension there might be a strike like this by the BNP-Jamaat clique to pull down the country鈥檚 prosperity.
鈥�. . . they (BNP-Jamaat) had wanted not to hold the elections, but we had arranged the elections. After election they thought it wouldn鈥檛 be accepted by all, but we鈥檝e also made it acceptable to all and we鈥檝e formed the government. It was an apprehension to me that there would be a strike like this,鈥� she said.
The prime minister made these remarks while exchanging views with editors, senior journalists and heads of news of various media outlets, organised by Editors鈥� Guild at her office.
She mentioned that before and after the election in 2013-14, the BNP-Jmaat clique unleashed arson attacks and killings that left hundreds of people killed and thousands injured.
鈥業t was a little bit understandable that this [the activities and movement of the students] was a grave conspiracy,鈥� she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that she didn鈥檛 want any incident which might invite any unwanted situation that would invite instability in the country. 鈥業t was the target to destroy country鈥檚 economy,鈥� she said.
She questioned about the understanding level of the people who supported these mayhem aiming to cripple the country鈥檚 advancement and prosperity.
Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of Awami League, said that the vested quarter was highly interested in destroying the country鈥檚 independence and the continuation of the democracy that had been going on for long 15 years.
She again said that she never wanted to deploy army personnel in the field while the students were there for the sake of their security.
鈥榃hile they (students) declared that they are not involved in the ongoing subversive activities then we called for the army,鈥� she said.
The prime minister also said that she didn鈥檛 want to impose a curfew as the country had been going through a democratic environment for 15 years.
She requested the people to resist those who had done this bane for the country. 鈥楾hey have destroyed all the structures that have been built for their welfare and livelihood. They have struck all those structures. Who will be the worst sufferer? Of course, mass people. Now it is the responsibility of the mass people to resist this terrorism and extremism,鈥� she said.
The prime minister called for creating mass awareness against the extremism that opened in the destructive activities. 鈥業f the people don鈥檛 become aware then what could we do or how much we could do alone,鈥� she said.
She also mentioned that the targets of the recent mayhem were Awami League, freedom fighters and pro-liberation forces.
The prime minister said that when all demands of the quota-free movement students were accepted why they gave scope to the extremism for doing such heinous activities.
鈥極ne day the quota-free movement activists have to answer to the nation, why they gave such opportunity to them for this destruction to the country,鈥� she said.
PM鈥檚 press secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan moderated the programme, while Editors鈥� Guild president Mozammel Huq Babu delivered welcome address.
Senior journalist Abed Khan, Bangladesh Pratidin editor Nayeem Nizam, DBC editor-in-chief and CEO Monzurul Islam, Bhorer Kagoj editor and National Press Club general secretary Shyamol Dutta, the daily Jugantor editor Saiful Alam, National Press Club president Farida Yasmin, Dhaka Journal chief editor Syed Istiaque Reza, head of news Nagorik TV Dip Azad, Amader Somoy editor Mainul Alam, Bangladesh Journal editor Shajahan Sarder, DBC news editor Zayedul Ahsan Pintu, Ashish Saikat of Independent TV, Bangla Tribune editor Zulfiquer Russell, head of news of 71 TV Shakil Ahmed, Energy and Power editor Mollah Amzad, head of news of Kings News Nazmul Huq Saikat and Mamunur Rahman Khan of RTV also spoke.
