No foreign pressure for election dialogue: Hasan

None of the foreign powers have exerted any pressure for a dialogue among political parties before the national election, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud.

“The dialogue statements were made by individuals like beneficiaries of the 1/11 and others. BNP itself has not expressed a desire for dialogue,” he said, while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the Secretariat on Sunday.

When asked about the BNP’s program, Mahmud emphasised that they have an additional responsibility as a government party.

“Our role is to ensure peace and order in the country and prevent any disruption by extremists. If anyone attempts to create chaos under the guise of a political program, it becomes our duty to stand with the people and maintain stability,” he said.

Addressing the desires of the business community, the minister said that it is natural for businessmen to want peace and stability in the country.

“They recognize the government’s role in upholding these conditions and believe that if the government remains in power, peace and stability will continue to prevail, leading to further progress. Consequently, influential businessmen have expressed their strong desire to see Sheikh Hasina serve as Prime Minister once again,” he said.

He mentioned that on this day in 2007, Sheikh Hasina, the current Prime Minister and then opposition leader of the Awami League, was unlawfully arrested without a warrant. “Her residence was also vandalised, and her late husband, renowned nuclear scientist Wazed Mia, faced mistreatment.”

The Information Minister further commented on the caretaker government that came into power after 1/11, highlighting their initial promise to combat corruption and misrule.

“However, the caretaker government itself became involved in corruption and misrule. They didn’t take action against the BNP-Jamaat coalition government, which had engaged in widespread corruption and mismanagement,” he went on.

“Sheikh Hasina’s arrest sparked widespread protests. The Awami League’s leaders and activists and the general public joined the movement advocating for her release. Eventually, due to the strong public sentiment, Sheikh Hasina was released after eleven months,” he added.

Mahmud attributed the subsequent release of Khaleda Zia to the pressure created by the Awami League’s movement, stating that the people of Bangladesh do not want to see a caretaker government of that nature again.

Expressing concern over recent developments, the AL leader noted the resurgence of the beneficiaries from the 1/11 era. He observed that they have become active once again, engaging in open and secret meetings in various locations and staging protests at different embassies.