Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday ridiculed BNP chief Khaleda Zia for her remarks on Padma Bridge saying that she would not have uttered those words had she been in her senses.

‘Any person who has a little bit of sense, who has some knowledge, or who is in his or her senses must not have uttered those words,’ she said.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a function at her official residence Ganobhaban when the leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) came to meet her marking the founding anniversary of the organisation, reports the UNB.

Khaleda Zia on Tuesday said the Padma Bridge will be risky to use as it is being constructed with patchworks, and urged people not to use it. She was speaking at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) arranged by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD).

The Prime Minister said if Khaleda Zia had brains in her head she would have had an idea how a bridge is constructed.

‘She (Khaleda) has brains in her head but that are used for making money through embezzlement, stealing orphans’ funds, burn people, killing people. She [Khaleda] can only do these things,’ Hasina said.

Hasina, also the chief of the ruling Awami League, said by uttering these rubbish words Khaleda has made it clear that she has no capability to construct a bridge.

Asking BCL leaders and activists to pay attention to study, she said all subjects, including science, technology, culture and literature have to be taught.

‘You always keep in mind that education is most important to lead the country in the future. It’s not possible to build yourselves without education. This is also applicable for advancing the country,’ she said.

Hasina asked the BCL activists to march forward nurturing its three principles -- education, peace and prosperity.

‘You have to advance the country and this is the biggest thing for you,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said BNP and its allies had established an anarchic situation in the country through their misdeeds like arson attacks, burning people to death, as well as through looting and money laundering.

‘They had only made their own fortunes when they were in power,’ said Hasina questioning how can they advance the country when they are unable to do anything for the welfare of people?

On the other hand, she said, her present government has created a congenial atmosphere in all educational institutions by handing over books to students instead of arms and money.

Referring to inhuman torture on and killing of the leaders of Awami League and Chhatra League by BNP in the past, the PM said they had also brought in power war criminals, rapists, killers and those who had handed over mothers and sisters to the Pakistani forces.

Hasina also mentioned UNESCO’s recognition of Bangabandhu’s historic 7th March speech and said it has brightened Bangladesh’s image before the international community.

She regretted that generation after generation could not play this historic speech due prohibition though it was the number one speech among the most-inspiring 41 speeches in the world as well as one of the best in two thousand and five hundred years.

Hasina called upon the leaders and workers of Chhatra League to work together to uphold the international recognition as well as to go to their own villages to educate people, if anyone is left behind.

BCL president Saifur Rahman Sohag and general secretary Zakir Hossain also spoke at the programme. AL general secretary Obaidul Quader was present at the podium.