Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came down hard on her political opponents, lambasting them for doing nothing during the challenging time of the COVID-19. 

Hasina, who was an announcing financial assistance program for poor and marginal people, said despite the criticism of the government’s handling of the pandemic, opposition parties did nothing to help people. 

“The Awami League has always rushed to help people in any disaster, even while they were the opposition party. This is what any opposition party should do,” she was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune. 

“But what are the opposition doing nowadays?” she asked, adding how many people had received food or help from opposition leaders.  People would have more on these parties, she said, if opposition leaders had helped people in this challenging time. 

Taking on the opposition’s allegation of muzzling criticism and dissent, she said, “The government has built a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ with private TV channels, radio stations, and newspapers in the private sector which has enabled the opposition parties 'to give statements while sitting at home.'"

Hasina claimed that her party took initiatives and implemented those for public good. While other parties, she added, were wasting time on creating schemes to topple her government. But, even for that, they need to be a serious opposition party and they must earn the trust of people, she added.