The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Daudkandi

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina alleged that BNP would dole out its looted money for vote buying on December 29 and urged people not to sell out their faith for such pittance as temporary gains.

Hasina, who went on addressing wayside election rallies on her way to Chittagong for the final public showing in the port city before Monday's national elections, said, "People do have their right to this looted money, but don't sell out your faith. BNP may give you money only once but will keep you in distress for five years." Bringing allegations of amassing thousands of crores of Taka, she questioned "why the former Prime Minister (Khaleda) and the former Finance Minister (Saifur) had to get their money whitened if they did not commit corruption".

Pointing her finger at former Health Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharrf Hossain, who is contesting the election against Awami League candidate Maj Gen (retd) Subed Ali Bhuyian from the area, Hasina, also a former premier, alleged that Tk 36,000 crore was plundered from the health sector alone during the BNP-Jamaat rule. Addressing another rally at Chandina in support of AL candidate Prof Ali Akbar, she said, "A killer (Mustaq) of Bangabandhu was born here and Ziaur Rahman rewarded and rehabilitated the killers." She said if AL is voted to power, the court verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case would be executed.

"There is no room for the killers on the soil of Bangladesh," said the elder daughter of the slain leader.

She urged people to elect honest and competent candidates on December 29, rejecting the corrupt and terrors.

Hasina also addressed a rally at Alekarchar seeking vote for AL candidate AKM Bahauddin Bahar.

Indian envoy summoned by MoFA, handed protest against their ships' presence in Bangladesh waters.