PM to offer tea to BNP leaders if they stage peaceful demo

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said she will offer ‘tea’ to leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) if they stage a peaceful movement.

Otherwise, a befitting reply would be given to them for violent acts, she warned.

“If they come to besiege the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) peacefully, they will not be intercepted. Rather, if they can walk to the office, tea will be served to them with due respect. I don't have any problem to listen them,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said this while virtually addressing a joint AL meeting with Dhaka city south and north units of the party and presidents and general secretaries of its associate bodies at the party central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.

The Prime Minister said she already directed police not to create any obstruction to the BNP’s programme, police should not stop them at Banglamotor.

“Let them come to my office on foot. I don’t have any objection. I will welcome them and offer tea. I will listen to them if they want to talk as I believe in democracy. But, a befitting reply will be given them if they hurl bombs and unleash vandalism,” she said.

Mentioning that people get something if Awami League remains in office, Sheikh Hasina said the people of the country get food, shelter, education, medical care and clothes.

“The Awami League-led government has achieved that ability so that all the people of the country can have meals,” she said.

Mentioning the number of population as per recent census, the Premier said the country has some 16.50 crore people.

“The number of the population has increased a little. I believe we will be able to ensure food for those people. I can do everything for them. We have achieved that capability,” she said.

“People will get everything while Awami League in power. But I don't know what will happen if the looters come to power. They have left the country by giving undertaking. Now they are the party of money launderers,” she said.

Posing a question that who will lead the party in the election, Sheikh Hasina said they did not find a man in Bangladesh who will be a leader of them?

“Embezzlers of orphans, ten truck arms smugglers, attackers of the August 21 grenade attack, assassins and murderers – are these person their leaders?” she added.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, presidium members Matia Chowdhury, Abdur Razzaque, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and Qamrul Islam, joint general secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Dipu Moni, Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, among others, were present.