Hasina warns against gas export

Escorted by party leaders, Leader of Opposition and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina checks in at ZIA prior to her departure for Canada yesterday. Photo: STAR

"Not only Awami League, people across the country will resist the decision to export gas... instead of meeting the country's demand," she said and directed her party leaders to take preparation for the movement.

Hasina was talking to journalists at Zia International Airport in the morning prior to her departure for Toronto, Canada, where she will attend a programme of American Psychological Association. Her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, will submit a thesis at the conference.

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Replying to a query, the Awami League president said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, while in opposition, had pledged that she would sacrifice blood, but never allow export of gas. "I want to remind her of her own speech... she has forgotten her speech after assuming power."

Quoting newspaper reports, she said the country now has a gas reserve that might meet the domestic demand for not more than 12 years.

The former prime minister said that during the previous Awami League government, gas was supplied to the north Bengal and she had a plan to supply the country's natural resources to each and every house.

Asked about the recent submission of charge sheet against her in the frigate purchase case, Hasina said it was the reflection of her (prime minister's) political vengeance. "I challenge them if they can buy a frigate at such a cheap price."

About the troubles on the court premises during the boycott programme on Wednesday, Hasina said: "The government, as part of its plan to politicise every sector, has been making 'history of terrorism' everywhere." They provoked their lawyers to attack the common lawyers and resorted to violence on the court premises, she alleged.

Asked about the fake notes in the Bangladesh Bank vault, the Awami League chief said the government should immediately resign for finding such fakes note in the central bank.

About the upcoming Netrakona by-election, she said: "We will win if the people are allowed to vote freely."

On the ruling party accusation of tarnishing the image of the country through her criticism, Hasina said sarcastically: "Perhaps the prime minister does not understand the difference between criticism of the government and of the state."

In this regard, she further said: "People throughout the world saw what she (Khaleda) and her son have done at Dhaka University... Chhatra Dal cadres attacked and mercilessly beat up innocent students on the campus late at night and also attacked the Chhatra League workers to oust them from the campus."

"She (Khaleda) is not restraining her party cadres. Rather, she and her ministers want to oust everyone and run the country as they wished... if anyone speaks against their hooliganism, does it mean it tarnishes the country's image?"

The former prime minister said that during her regime, the BNP also sent e-mails and fax abroad, but could that tarnish the image of the country? "They are now basking in the good image created during the Awami League rule."

During her two-week visit, Hasina will go to Miami in the US on August 11 from Canada. She is due to leave the US on August 19 and to reach Dhaka in the morning on August 21.

Senior Awami League leaders were present at the airport to give Hasina a hearty send-off.