"Seizing Power through 'Assassination-Coup-Conspiracy' Is a Punishable Crime"

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, if anyone wants to seize power through assassination, coup or conspiracy, it will be a punishable crime. If necessary, capital punishment will be given. There is no other way to come to power except through democracy.

She said this in an exclusive interview given to Voice of America during his stay in New York at the 77th session of the United Nations.

The interview was aired on the Voice of America website and Facebook page yesterday (September 27). Shatrupa Barua, head of Voice of America's Bengali division, conducted this interview.

During this, Shatarupa Barua asked various questions about Bangladesh's Digital Security Act, freedom of media, upcoming elections and Rohingyas. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina answered various questions and talked about various issues in the interview lasting about an hour. The prime minister also highlighted various achievements of Awami League's regime.

There is no chance to come to power as a military ruler, the Prime Minister said, after a few years of Bangladesh's independence, dictators came and seized power. The group involved in the assassination of the father of the nation made Ziaur Rahman the army chief. From the post of army chief, Zia also declared himself as the head of state. Then Ershad also came to power as a military ruler. Now there is no chance. We have tough laws to protect democracy.

She also said that Zia declared himself as the President from the post of Army Chief. Later, he violated the rules and regulations of the army to stay in power by changing the rules. After Zia's death, Ershad also came to power in the same way. Later we moved for democracy. However, even after the fall of the dictatorship, there was no fair election of service. No party got the majority in the election results as the people of the time of the dictators spread influence in all departments including the administration, army, and intelligence agencies. Later, BNP joined hands with Jamaat-e-Islami and came to power. We have had to struggle a lot to get out of this situation.

Pointing out that the democratic process has continued in the country since the elections of 2008, Sheikh Hasina said that in Article 7 of the Constitution, it is written that the people own all the powers of the republic. We have added another clause there. If anyone tries to usurp power by assassination, coup or conspiracy by ousting the elected person in power, he will be punished.

The misapplication of the Digital Security Act has created a culture of fear in Bangladesh as a result of which the media is practicing extensive self-censorship. Responding to a question from Shatrupa Barua, the Prime Minister said, "When I came to power in 1996, there was only one television, one radio and a few newspapers in the country. After I came to government, I opened up the inclusion of the private sector in the media. Now there are 44 television stations licensed in the country and 32 are operational. Speakers are criticizing the government in various talk shows on these channels. They are saying many things in combination with truth and lies. After speaking, if someone says that he/she was not allowed to speak, what would be said? "