Underlining the need for maintaining the constitutional process in the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday reiterated that the state will be run as per the constitution.
"We don't want to see the country being run unconstitutionally again…the aim of the government is to govern the country as per the constitution," she said.
The Prime Minister was speaking at a discussion meeting on Mourning Day organised by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi with its president HM Badiuzzaman Sohag in the chair.
Turning to the 15th amendment, Sheikh Hasina said it was done to restore the basic rights of people and make sure that the state is run as per the constitution. Hasina said the main aim of her government is to return the state power to people as the country belongs to them and their power has to be ensured through the constitution.
Recalling the military rules that had taken the country to the dark age, the Prime Minister said, "The country witnessed 19 coups and the killing of hundreds of army, navy and air force officers in those coups."
In his connection, Hasina mentioned the country had gone under the rule of military dictators and democracy slipped into the deep darkness after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that the military dictators had snatched the voting and constitutional rights of people by grabbing power illegally after the killing of Bangabandhu.
Hasina alleged that the military dictators to legitimise their power formed political parties and rigged elections.
She said Awami League was always very much vocal against the military dictators who had captured powered illegally.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, AL President and PM's media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and DU VC AAMS Arefin Siddique also spoke at the meeting. BCL general secretary Siddiqui Nazmul Alam conducted the meeting.