Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said though the Mahabharata will not be affected, the country’s constitution will surely get undermined if an unelected government comes to power. She made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the month-long ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2023,’ the annual event of booklovers and publishers, at Bangla Academy premises in the capital on Wednesday (February 1) afternoon. “There are some very wise persons in our country who argue that bringing an unelected government to power for two to four years won’t make the Mahabharata incorrect. You do understand who are these people. We saw what an unelected government did at that time,” she said.

She opened the country’s biggest book fair, joining its inaugural ceremony in person after a gap of three years induced by Covid-19 pandemic. “It is right that it will not make the Mahabharata incorrect. But it will make our constitution incorrect,” she said. Noting that there was an unelected government during the 2007-2008, she questioned who gained what at that time. The PM said her government took steps to continue the democratic process. Bangladesh has witnessed development thanks to the continuation of the democratic trend. “Since we brought the 15 amendments to the constitution, stability now prevails in Bangladesh,” she said.

She said her government has been able to keep the wheels of the country’s economy moving facing all natural and manmade disasters. “Now stability prevails in the country. I think some people are there who don’t feel comfortable with the stability in the country. If anyone wishes to come to power, the person should stand in line with the people, join elections and seek votes. If the people choose them, they will be in power,” she said. About electoral reforms, Hasina mentioned the steps taken by her government to make the balloting fair. She said transparent ballot boxes and national identity cards have been introduced and electoral rolls with photographs prepared as per the proposals placed by her party and alliance so that the people would exercise their voting rights peacefully and freely.

In an oblique reference to BNP’s victory in 30, out of 300 constituencies in the 2008 general election, she said, “How will those who got only 30 seats (in 2008 election) will get seats?” She said her party gained public support through its work. The PM said her government built Digital Bangladesh which brought benefits, but it has some bad impacts. “I want you to take a decision knowing the actual scenario, not based on what you see or hear (on digital platforms),” she said.