Hasina dismisses possibility of imposing emergency

A BNP led 20-party alliance called a blockade on January 5, demanding snap elections under a neutral government

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday ruled out any chances of declaring a state of emergency though the BNP and its allies were continuing with the violent blockade for a month.

"Hoping for an emergency rule is daydreaming," she told parliament Wednesday.

"Those who are dreaming, those who want to lead the country to destruction, we will never let them do this as long as blood runs through our veins," bdnews24.com quoted her as saying.

"No one has been able to create a situation that calls for emergency," the prime minister noted.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 20-party alliance that called the blockade on January 5, has announced that it will press ahead with the agitations until its demand for a dialogue on a snap general election under a 'neutral' government was held.

At least 50 people have been killed, most of them burnt to death in petrol bomb attacks targeting vehicles, since the blockade started. In an attack in Comilla Tuesday, seven people were burnt alive.

But ruling Awami League leaders maintain the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance was trying to pave the way for an unconstitutional government by creating anarchy in the country.

Hasina said, "BNP forgets one thing. Some people make phone calls. It's just coming... Emergency is coming. Why shall we need emergency rule?"

"The law-enforcing agencies are there. We know how to tackle such terrorism. People are with us," she said.