I will not quit politics: Hasina

Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNI) Detained Awami League president and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has declared she will not retire from politics, nor will she quit politics upon the dictates of anybody.

She said, although she had been asked to quit politics, she would not do so. Her declaration came while she was talking to her counsels at Dhaka Divisional Judge's special court located at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex yesterday.

Hasina was produced before court in connection with the MiG-29 corruption case.

''Whatever pressure I may have to withstand, I will not quit politics. People of the country and I myself will take decision whether or not I will do politics. I will not accept any decision that is imposed upon me,'' one of her lawyers Advocate Quamrul Islam quoted her as saying.

She also said the way people are being ''persecuted'', the question of her quitting politics did not arise.

She also made it clear that her party would not participate in the next general election without her. Hasina alleged that she was shifted to jail from the Square Hospital all of a sudden despite her serious illness, The Independent reported.

The former Prime Minister said it would not be right for her to quit politics at the present condition of the people of the country.

Claiming alleviation of the country from poverty during the five-year term of her previous Awami League government, she said, her government was able to supply rice at Taka 10 per kilogram and edible oil at Tk 40 per kg which has now shot up to Tk 40 and Tk 120 per kg.

''We could keep the prices of essentials stable during our five-year tenure,'' Hasina said expressing her concern at the people's hardship for spiralling prices of essential commodities throughout the country.

Hasina alleged that she was taken back to the sub-jail from the hospital although the doctors advised her to stay at the Square Hospital for a week more for treatment.

''All of a sudden on Saturday, I was asked to get back to the sub-jail from the hospital although my left eye is on the brink of damage and the condition of my ears is not good at all,'' her counsel quoted the AL chief as saying.

The former Prime Minister also claimed that she would be relieved of all the charges and get released if she gets proper justice.

Sheikh Hasina also alleged that her relatives and lawyers are not allowed to meet her at the sub-jail.

UNI XC RJ AS2015