The Bangladesh Journal - Hasina asks govt for explicitly declare path to restoring democracy

The Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, on Tuesday asked the interim government for a clear roadmap to democracy outlining its election plans.

‘We demand a roadmap from the government for transition to democracy outlining its plans so that there is certainty about general elections,’ she told a gathering at the prestigious London School of Economics.

‘I would continue to support all good activities of the government,’ said Hasina.

But, she said, it would not be good for democracy if the interim administration headed by Fakhruddin Ahmed stays ‘too long’ in office.

She made the remarks at the LSE during a public lecture chaired by Baroness Manzila Pola Uddin. The LSE Professor Sumatra Bose was the host speaker. Abul Hossain from the LSE Bangladesh Society organised the programme.

The Awami League chief also replied to questions from a selected audience of some 200 multi-ethnic but predominantly Bangladeshi students and eminent personalities at Old Theatre in the evening.

Hasina felt the administration needed to be ratified by the next parliament. ‘This government must seek ratification from next parliament. I am not a constitution expert but from my common political knowledge I know they must need it,’ she said.

She also pledged to carry out reforms within her party.

‘We will bring about reform from our point of view and need. In our party, I cannot appoint anyone as office bearer without prior consent from councillors.’

She said she was confident that the Awami League would assume office if elections were held right now.

Hasina also said the patriotic military moved rightly on January 11 when the country was at the political crossroads and pledged to increase peacekeeping ability of the Armed Forces given the opportunity.

She said if elected, her government would ensure job for at least one youth from each family and take effective measures to curb prices of essential commodities.

Her administration would further bolster the drive against corruption and introduce e-governance at all tiers of the government.

Building a deep-sea port, a new international airport and Asian Highway would be among her party’s key agenda, Hasina said.

UNB reports from Dhaka, Hasina is likely to return home on May 7 as the government has lifted its earlier restrictions on her return.

The Awami League assistant secretary for international affairs, Abdus Sobhan Golap, who is accompanying Hasina, told the news agency that the Awami League president had bought her ticket to fly by Emirates Airlines on May 6 from London. She will reach Dhaka on May 7.

Hasina was scheduled to return home on April 22, but the caretaker government on April 18 slapped a ban on the Awami League chief’s return, saying that her presence in the country might jeopardise political stability and public security.

Following the government ban, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh promptly requested all airlines operating to Dhaka not to carry the former prime minister on her home-bound journey. Hence, Hasina could not avail herself of the scheduled flight from Heathrow, as the British Airways refused a boarding pass to her.

The government later withdrew the restrictions on April 25.

Hasina left the country for the USA on March 15 on a private visit to meet her children.

During her absence, she was charged in a case of extortion and another of political murder.