প্রকাশ: 19/09/2022
Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina in an exclusive interview with the BBC during her stay in the UK
to pay respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II told that she herself struggled
for establishing the democratic process and free fair election in Bangladesh
and free and fair election was only held during the Awami League regime.
"Of course, it is my struggle to establish democratic
system and free fair election. ---only during the Awami League time you can see
free fair election," she said while replying to a question regarding her
government's commitment to make the next election be free and fair by BBC
journalist Laura Kunessberg.
During the interview that was aired on Sunday, the Prime
Minister said that many people can lodge complaints about disappearances, but
you have to judge how true it is.
The Prime Minister told the BBC that her country had
military rulers for a long time, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly.
"In 1975, my father (Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) was assassinated. He was the then president of the
country and you know that my entire family, my mother, my three brothers, two
sisters in -laws, other family members, and a total of 18 members were brutally
murdered" she said.
Since then for 21 years, she said the country had witnessed
coups time and again, adding that there were attempts of coups for around 20
times and every time there was bloodshed. "There was no democracy, no
democratic rights, so I struggled to establish democracy in my country,"
she said.
About the allegations of disappearance, Sheikh Hasina said,
"many people can place allegations, but how far it is true, you have to
judge. Before knowing that no one should make any comment."
The Prime Minister told the BBC that military rulers ruled
the country for long and they formed parties and never went to the
people of the country to ask to vote for them.
"They (military dictators) used the army, used the
administration and used everything just to cling to power," she said.
About launching crack downs on allegations of disappearance,
the premier questioned the BBC journalist, "How many people disappear in
your country as well as other countries? You can judge. All these issues
I think first you have to take into consideration, all the information you
should collect, then you can accuse."
On how importance of Commonwealth to you and Bangladesh, she
said, "Of course (it has great value), when we are together, there are
many opportunities there, so it is good and important as we have one place
where we can exchange our views, can adopt some ideas, or deliver some good
jobs for the countries or the people. So that is why I feel it is good."
Now at present, you see, she said one country cannot go
alone as it is an interdependent world, adding, "So, under this circumstance,
Commonwealth means a lot for the member countries. Each country can work
together---because there are many countries, developed countries, developing
countries and poor countries, small island countries."
About personal memory with Queen Elizabeth II she said
it was 1961 when she (Queen) visited then East Pakistan and she had the
opportunity to see her (for the first time in person).
She said: "We are very young and went to my
father's (Bangabandhu's) office, because we knew that she was passing through
that road. So, all of us, the whole family, are eagerly waiting in the
windows with binoculars. So we can see her more (clearly)."
The premier added that when she became the prime minister,
she met the queen in every Commonwealth summit.
"I attended about seven commonwealth summits. Every
time I had the opportunity to talk to her," she said, adding that she said
they discussed each other for a long time as she went to attend the Olympic
games in response to the invitation of the late Queen.
Recalling beautiful memories with the late queen, the Prime
Minister, "She (Queen) had a wonderful memory and she used to inquire
about me saying where Hasina was if she didn't see me."
The Prime Minister said her Majesty is a queen of the United
Kingdom, no doubt about it.
"But she is a leader of the Commonwealth also. As a
member of the commonwealth countries, she has a great value to us," she
said.
The Premier said the late Queen was the monarch for about 70
years, adding, "I feel for this world she was not only a queen, but also a
very affectionate and motherly personality, whenever I met her, I felt
that."
- BSS
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