We give shelter to Rohingyas, pressure on Myanmar govt: PM

Staff Correspondent: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is giving shelter to the Rohingya people completely on humanitarian grounds. Alongside, we are also putting pressures on Myanmar to take back the people. Why citizens of a country will take shelter as refuges in another country? It is not a matter of honour for that country. Myanmar government should realize it.

She also said the next general election must be held in a free, fair and impartial manner in the country and on time. So, there is no way to spoil the water for nothing.

The Premier, also the Awami League president, said this while addressing a meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) at her official Ganabhaban residence on Thursday evening.

"The next general election must be held in a free, fair and neutral manner ... none will be allowed to play ducks and drakes with the voting rights of the people and we won't let it happen," she said.

The prime minister said the Election Commission will hold the next polls in completely independent manner. "We will ensure," she said.

She added that there is no scope for unnecessary polluting the water about the polls and thinking about doing other things by violating the constitution.

While talking about the BNP's demand for holding a free and fair election in the country, Sheikh Hasina said the BNP should look their face in the mirror as the party had first staged farcical elections.

"I'm wondered and laugh when the BNP talks and raises various allegations about the free and fair elections in the country ... I think they should look their face in the mirror," she said.

The premier said whatever incidents about the elections occurred in the country that were during the rule of the BNP. "This party had first influenced the polls and staged farcical elections," she added.


risingbd/Dhaka/September 07, 2017/Nripen/A K Azad