BNP Chairperson and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia has said there is no scope of a negotiation with the government over the non-partisan government to oversee the next elections.
“We have been and will be with the people of the country always. We are fighting for the restoration of democracy and will continue the movement for establishing the rights of the people. There is no scope of compromise. Compromise means allowing injustice to happen,” she said.
The former prime minister was speaking to journalists during an unscheduled visit to the National Press Club on Thursday evening, a day after the opposition’s 84-hour nationwide hartal ended Wednesday. Several senior journalists greeted Khaleda Zia at the press club at 5:45pm.
Terming the demand of election under a non-partisan government is logical, the BNP chief said, “It was your (ruling party) demand, not ours. We inserted the provision in the constitution and you scrapped it, which was unjust.”
Press club President Kamaluddin Sabuj, journalists Ruhul Amin Gazi, Syed Abdal Ahmed, Abul Asad, Abdul Awal Thakur, Kamruzzaman, Abdus Sahid, Mostafa Kamal Majumdar, M Aziz, Khandakar Monirul Alam, Baker Hossain, Syed Mesbah Uddin, Amirul Islam Kagoji, Mahfuzullah and M Abdullah were among the pro-BNP journalists who spoke at the programme.
Senior journalists Reaz Uddin Ahmed, Shafique Ahmed, Alamgir Mohiuddin, Abdul Hai Sikder, Dhaka University teacher Mahbubullah and Brac University teacher Pyas Karim were present in the programme.
They urged the BNP chairperson to call for a tougher movement to oust the ‘autocratic’ government and vowed to support such a movement from their respective positions.
Some of the speakers criticised the Dhaka city unit BNP for its ‘inactivity’ saying there was strong movement outside the capital but poor performance in the capital.
Listening to the opinions of journalist community leaders, Khaleda said, “I share your concerns about the current situation of the country. You know many things about the country. Today I came to hear from you.”
The former premier said post and position is not a big deal for her, rather restoration of democracy is her struggle.
“When I started politics, I struggled for restoring democracy and am doing the same thing right now.
People’s government should have to be established ousting this repressive and fascist government.”
Remembering noted journalist Gias Kamal Chowdhury who died recently, Khaleda said he had worked for democracy and people like him were needed most today.
Earlier BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan told the Dhaka Tribune, “ In a democratic system, there is hardly any other alternative.”
“ If the government shows restraining in their persecution of the opposition and implement the resignation of the prime minister which she had already indicated in public, the present violent and volatile situation may be resolved within seconds thus paving the way for a meaningful negotiated settlement of the whole crisis,” he said.