BNP wants to snatch people’s voting rights: PM

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has alleged that the BNP opposes the 15th constitution amendment as it wants to snatch people's voting rights.

'The BNP does not want people elect their own government. It has always acted against democracy as the party was born illegally through killing, coup and conspiracy,' she said while addressing a rally at Companyghat Beribadh in the city Saturday afternoon.

The rally was arranged marking the laying foundation stone of Sheikh Russel Govt High School and

Bangamata Begum Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Govt College at Hajaribagh.

Hasina said the constitution had been amended in the light of Supreme Court's verdict to secure people's right to vote for electing their own government. 'We want people's power, they (BNP) want illegal force's power. We want peace, they want militancy and terrorism.'

The prime minster questioned why the 'anti-liberation force' which ruled the country for most of the time till 1996, did not work for people's development. She said the BNP-Jamaat government had earned the bad name of militancy and corruption for Bangladesh in the comity of nations.

She was critical of private educational institutions for charging high fees from the students. She said considering education facilities for the urban poor and middle income group, the government would set up colleges and schools at all thanas of Dhaka city. Out of 41 thanas, only 23 thanas have government schools and colleges.

Expressing sympathy to the slum dwellers, the prime minister said the government was implementing 'Return Home' and 'Housing' project for them to ensure the basic needs. She reiterated the government's plan to introduce free education for poor students up to graduate level under the Prime Minister's Education Fund. Tk 1,000 crore has been allocated under the new budget to run the fund.

The prime minister informed the local residents that considering environmental hazards the government would shift the tanneries to Savar and other areas.

Hasina promised to turn the Beribadh road into four lanes and develop the roads surrounding the capital into modern highways.

'No matter how much it costs to arrange food for all, we will not let them to suffer from food crisis,' she said.

The prime minister also inaugurated the Hajaribagh fire station.

With the education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, in the chair, the rally was also addressed by the home minister, Sahara Khatun, the state minister for LGRD, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and local MP Fazle Nur Taposh.

Source : New Age