Following a day-long election campaign, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, met a select group of four journalists from India, including this correspondent of the Millennium Post, in her private residence 'Sudha Sadan' at Dhanmandi this week. In her first-ever interview to the Indian media during the national election of the country, she has spoken for nearly forty minutes and answered questions on the issue of her party Awami League's electoral prospect, terrorism, political atmosphere of the country as a whole and host of other issues that came up during the interaction. Excerpt:
MP: After the national election can you assure us that Bangladesh would be a safe place for the South-Asia?
Hasina: It depends on my people. If they vote for us then only I can assure you that Bangladesh would be a safe place for the world. I won't allow the soil of our country to be used by the militants, international terrorists and separatist elements to work against any country including our neighbours. I have a dream to fulfill the goal of our 'Father of the Nation' Bangabandhu. Lot of work has been done and many other development projects have to be completed, like Padma Setu. If by any chance some other forces come to the power then I am afraid Bangladesh will go back to under development. My only apprehension that whatever progress has been made during the last ten years is not lost. I want political stability should continue.
MP: This is the first time that all recognised political parties including major opposition party BNP led by Khaleda Zia and a new political outfit known as Gono Forum are jointly contesting against 14 parties united front led by Awami League. Do you claim it's your political success?
Hasina: (Smilingly) Well, it's your assessment. But I am thankful to all political parties for joining the election fray. I persuaded them. You know in the last election they (BNP) didn't participate. But they did horrible things. They threw explosives, burnt the houses, more than 3,900 vehicles including buses, cars, public transport, cars were damaged. And the people of Bangladesh didn't accept this strategy. Even I offered them to come to Parliament and to join the Cabinet with the portfolios they wanted. But they declined. This time opposition parties formed a Jatyiyo Oikyo Front and gave me a proposal to meet them. I readily accepted and on their demand. I had requested the Election Commission to postpone the general election for a week for their preparation.
MP: Now, the opposition parties have decided to contest unitedly though they have put up some candidates who are known to anti-liberation struggle of Bangladesh. How do you see this development? Is it an opportunity for you
to win easily or a challenge? (Smilingly)
Hasina: It's both. But in reality what had happened in the opposition camp was ridiculous. The national leadership of the BNP was not allowed to choose their candidate. Rather, the son of Khaleda Zia sitting in London through video conference selected candidates. It was an open auction of candidates. You know that electorally banned Jamaat-e-Islami, known to be an anti-liberation force and was cohorts of Pakistani forces and Razakars, are given tickets by that gentleman. People of this country cannot allow those forces to come back again. Therefore to my mind, it's a fight between pro-liberation and anti-liberation forces. Once again, a large threat is looming large whether Bangladesh would go back to the dark ages. I believe in people's power, They are my strength.
MP: I saw you have been many gathering through video conference. In all these speeches what's your main appeal.
Hasina: You have correctly watched. In fact, I have started this practice in the last election. But this year on a big scale. Today you have watched my two addresses from this residence to Kishoregunj and Bandarban which are quite far away. Is this not a proof that Bangladesh has been graduated to a digital Bangladesh when 3G broadband and internet connectivity has improved? Moreover, you yourself have seen that the current weather is bad due to the cyclonic storm. I cannot move everywhere. Despite having bad weather digitally equipped Bangladesh is helping in a political campaign. Even our critic opposition parties are also getting benefit out of it.
MP: During the release of Awami Leagues manifesto you have sought an apology for any mistakes your Government has done during the last five years. Why so?
Hasina: You cannot satisfy everybody. Big party and cabinet. We're human beings, you can commit mistakes, it depends if people accept these mistakes. I work for people, I want to build their lives, I want to turn this country from a poor country into a prosperous country. That was my father's dream. Our people are very generous.
We hope to run the country for another five years. I thought I should beg a pardon for any mistakes.
(To be continued)