Khaleda always trying to destroy Hasina: Ashraf

BNP and its chief Khaleda Zia are trying every minute to eliminate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said yesterday, cautioning party men against internal division and feud.

"If you think you are safe after coming to power, you are wrong. We'll have to be on the alert always. If we ignore everything, create division and engage in feuds, we'll get weak and they (conspirators) will launch attacks," he said.

Ashraf was speaking at a discussion organised by the Jatiya Sramik League at the capital's Mahanagar Natya Mancha, marking the grenade attack on an Awami League rally on August 21, 2004.

The AL leader urged the party men not to create chaos for the interest of the country, 

the party and the prime minister. "Can't you give up your greed for little money or the share of it for the sake of the country, the party and Sheikh Hasina? he asked.

"If you stand united, nothing will happen to the Awami League or to Sheikh Hasina. Or else, a dreadful situation may result in Bangladesh."

The conspirators and Khaleda Zia are not sitting idle for a second; they are trying to create a ground and looking for a chance to eliminate Hasina and AL, said Ashraf, also the public administration minister.

He said, "BNP is a party of conspirators and killers who always hatch plots on how to destroy Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League leaders."

Alleging that BNP never wanted and supported the Liberation War, he said, "What's the great sin of the Awami League and Bangabandhu? Is it separating Bangladesh from BNP's adorable Pakistan? They [BNP] will never be able to forget that shock [losing Pakistan] and are trying every day to avenge it… that effort is going on and will continue."

Turning to numerous tragedies in the month of August, Ashraf said, "Why was Bangabandhu killed on August 15… why was the grenade attack launched also in August… Pakistan was also born on August 14. They [anti-liberation forces] want to take revenge by killing Hasina in August."