Won't lease out St Martin's to hold on to power: PM Hasina

Highlights:

• Bangladesh wants to be a part of the BRICS coalition to diversify relations
• The government is working to establish bilateral ties with both the East and the West
• 'Does BNP want to come to power by selling St Martin's Island?' PM Hasina asks
• Elections will be held according to the constitution
• It is up to the countrymen if they want democratic continuity and development, or a caretaker government like the one in 2007 and the state of emergency again

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has firmly stated that she will not resort to selling any national assets or compromising the country's sovereignty to stay in power.

"I don't want to return to power by leasing out St Martin's Island," she said on Wednesday in response to questions from journalists during a press conference at Ganobhaban over the outcomes of her recent visits to Switzerland and Qatar.

While the premier did not explicitly mention any name seeking to take a lease of St Martin's, she emphasised her commitment to safeguarding the country's wealth. "I will not let anyone play with the fate of the people of our country," she said.

She said she could have retained power in 2001 by guaranteeing the sale of gas, and added, "If I now say I will lease out St Martin's or our country, there will also be no problem for me to stay in power. I know that. But I will never pursue such paths."

Referring to previous governments' actions, the prime minister drew attention to the circumstances under which the BNP came to power in 2001, alleging that the party had promised to sell gas reserves.

"The BNP came to power in 2001 by giving undertakings to sell gas. Now they want to sell the country. They want to come to power through undertaking to sell St Martin's," she said.

Emphasising the government's commitment to peace and cooperation, she reiterated her determination to prevent any terrorist acts or attacks originating from Bangladesh's soil.

"We want peace. But we won't allow anyone to take advantage of our country."

The premier further called on the countrymen to evaluate how Bangladesh has changed in the past 14 years and a half – in terms of the country's image, growth, development, competency and self-sufficiency – instead of paying heed to propaganda.

She said, "I believe in the power of the people. Now they will decide who has the ability to help Bangladesh successfully graduate from a least developed country [LDC] to a developing one by 2026."

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh wants to be a part of the BRICS coalition, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to diversify relations.

A discussion in this regard was held with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Geneva last week, she said.

"We were with BRICS from the time of its formation. Now we officially want to be its member as our plan is to have diverse options when it comes to development and bilateral relations. We do not want to depend on just one or two options for the overall growth of our country."

During the meeting, Ramaphosa said there is a possibility a decision would be made on increasing the number of members of the alliance at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg next August. He lauded Bangladesh's socioeconomic and labour sector achievements and congratulated Bangladesh on becoming a member of the New Development Bank.

Sheikh Hasina, at the time, requested him to set up South Africa's embassy in Dhaka.

Emphasising the need for trade in local currencies to reduce dependency on the dollar, the PM said Bangladesh is open to alternative currencies and financial institutions.

"We are already working to introduce trade transactions in local currencies to ease pressure on dollar holdings," she said, adding that details on this will be revealed once everything is finalised.

"We will join anything that benefits us. We are bound to do everything that is favourable for our people. The time has gone when there was no option but to lean on one party or take a side," she added.

The premier stressed the importance of establishing a foreign policy based on peace and said her government is working to establish bilateral ties with both the East and the West.

"When Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said Bangladesh will be the Switzerland of the East, he meant a country connected with all and known for its neutrality and advocacy in global peacekeeping. Therefore, our foreign policy dictum has been inspired and curated in line with his famous stance 'Friendship to all, malice towards none'.

"We believe in peace. We believe in peaceful cooperation."

Bangladesh did not engage in quarrels with Myanmar even after some 11 lakh displaced Myanmar nationals took shelter in Bangladesh, she said, adding that Bangladesh continues engagement with Myanmar on the issue.

Sheikh Hasina also addressed the issue of the election-time government system, highlighting Bangladesh's adherence to the Westminster type of democracy.

She affirmed that elections in the country would be conducted in a manner similar to countries such as England.

The opposition BNP has various proposals; now it wants the restoration of the caretaker government system, said the prime minister, adding that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia once, while commenting on caretaker government, said "no one is neutral except madmen and children".

"Once they [BNP] had abolished this system and also ruined it…But now they want it back. However, the High Court has ruled and the Constitution has been amended accordingly that an elected prime minister or head of government shall be replaced by another elected head of government. Outside this, there is no scope for an unelected person to come."

Questioning why constitutional complications are being created despite knowing all this, the prime minister said, "It means destroying the democratic process. This is to spoil the long 14-and-half years that Bangladesh is running smoothly and making socio-economic progress."

"The question is how the countrymen will take it. Do they want democratic continuity? Do they want economic development? Do they want the welfare of the people of the country? Or, do they want a caretaker government like the one in 2007, and the state of emergency again? That is for the people of the country to consider," concluded Premier Sheikh Hasina