Sangsad Bhaban, Sept 15 (UNB)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rang the alarm from parliament that agents of undemocratic forces that had captured power in the past are still active to jeopardize the current democratic process.

Disclosing that they are hitting snags at every step for the counterproductive activity of such mercenaries, she urged the people to stand on a rock-solid unity to foil any such conspiracies.

“While running government and development works, we find continued obstacles from the agents of those people who had captured power by undemocratic means… All must stand as solid as a rock so none can disrupt the present democracy,” she said.

The Leader of the House sounded the caution while participating in a discussion on the UN-sponsored International Democracy Day.

“Our experience is unique. We’d restore democracy through struggle, but again it’s snatched away,” she said, making a flashback on the treacherous political history of the country since the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.

She urged the people not to be misled by “false campaigns” and remain cautious about their right to vote.

The Prime Minister also urged the abstaining opposition BNP and its allies to return to parliament and speak out their points on the floor.

Recalling her own experience as the opposition leader, she said though they had frequently walked out of the parliament, but again returned to speak for the people.

Hasina thanked Khaleda Zia for attending the iftar arranged at Senakunja by the Armed Forces Division when she invited the opposition leader, also ex-PM, to join the parliament.

The Prime Minister said her party believes in Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy-By the People, of the People, for the People.

But this democracy had been absent since 1975 when an elected government was toppled and military dictators grabbed power denying people’s right to vote.

About the two years of rule of the past caretaker government, Hasina said it is unfortunate for the nation that the caretaker government whose tenure was 90 days had stayed two years and the country could not be ruled by elected representatives for that period.

During that time, she said, “various formulas were floated by those people who would lose security money if they contest any election”.

She again mentioned a proposal for her to become Prime Minister without elections, which she spurned.

“Those who exploit people, those who are usurers and bribe-takers had got an ambition to assume power,” Hasina, jailed during a massive anti-graft drive during the interim period, said in a veiled remark.

However, she hailed the caretaker regime for holding a free and fair election which was acceptable to all. “This was the fairest election after the 1973 general election,” she claimed.

The Prime Minister told the lawmakers that the country has been pushed back economically, socially and culturally due to undemocratic rule. Only a handful of people became rich and vast majority remained ignored.

Hasina said her government is committed to its election pledges to bring about economic freedom of the people.