Khaleda Zia yesterday cancelled her view-exchange meeting with journalists who went to her upmarket residence in Gulshan.
Earlier, BNP chairperson’s press wing invited journalists to join the view-exchange meeting through SMS and over phone.
Responding to the call from the press wing of the BNP more than 200 journalists gathered in front of her residence.
Around 9pm, Shamsuddin Didar, an official of chairperson’s press wing, told journalists that the programme was postponed and Khaleda Zia would not hold the view-exchange meeting.
He, however, declined to explain as to why the meeting had been cancelled.
Meanwhile, the BNP on Thursday alleged that the swearing-in of new parliament members was in violation of the constitution.
The party also claimed that Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury violated the constitution by conducting the oath-taking ceremony.
“Today’s [Thursday] swearing-in is a clear violation of the constitution. If President Abdul Hamid invites the parliament leader to form government, it will also violate the constitution,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, said in a statement.
The spokesperson of the party alleged that everything was done to cling to the state power.
Issuing a note of warning, Fakhrul also said: “It is to be remembered that those who violated the constitution today once inserted a provision of punishment in the constitution through 15th amendment for violating the constitution.”
The BNP leader cited article 123 of the constitution to justify his statement saying the article says elected parliament members cannot take over offices until the term of previous government ends – which is January 24.
The BNP leader warned that all concerned will have to be “indicted one day” for such offense.
Mirza Fakhrul also slammed the “farcical” January 5 elections: “Time will come and the people will answer to this farce,” he said at the end of the statement.
After Fakhrul’s statement, adviser to BNP Chairperson Osman Farruk called off their indefinite blockade for Friday and Saturday. “But the blockade will continue from Sunday,” he said.
“We have called off blockades for Friday and Saturday considering people’s sufferings and will resume again from Sunday across the country demanding the cancelation of January 5 farcical polls,” he said through a video message.
Farruk, who usually briefs the media from his residence, came up with the announcement from a hideout.
The party will offer special doa in mosques across the country and will stage demonstration across the country on January 11.
The opposition combine enforced indefinite transportation blockade from January 1 simultaneously with two hartal in two spells.