Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina said that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has paired up with the ISI and Pakistan to disrupt the upcoming Bangladeshi General Elections, scheduled for December 30, 2018
Ahead of Bangladesh’s 11th General Elections, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has alleged that Pakistan and the ISI have partnered with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in order to sabotage the polling, scheduled for December 30.
Amid towering tension between the leading party, Bangladesh Awami League and the leading opposition party, BNP, the Prime Minister asserted, “Why only blame Pakistan and ISI? If at all we have to blame, we should blame the BNP.” She added that the opposition party “is taking bribe and money from the ISI to destroy the democratic structure of the country. There is no love for the country and its people. They do not want the country to make any progress”.
The Bangladeshi PM went on to highlight that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders were “charged with war crimes and grenade attacks in the country” in 1971.
Backing India’s policy of no dialogue or deliberation with Pakistan until it puts an end to terrorism, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asserted, “There is zero tolerance for terrorism in our country.” Further adding that Bangladesh is working with its neighbours to counter terrorism. She affirmed, “Terrorism is a global problem and all stakeholders should work with each other. One thing we are sure of and have taken steps towards is that we are not going to allow our land to promote terrorism on foreign soil”.
In 2014, the BNP along with other opposition parties boycotted the 10th General Elections, resulting in the landslide victory of the Bangladesh Awami League.