Twenty-party alliance chief Khaleda Zia yesterday again said Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina must sit with the BNP to discuss how an inclusive, free and fair election can be arranged.
At the same time, the BNP chairperson threatened to oust the “illegal, corrupt and killer government” through people’s movement after the Eid festivals to realise the demand.
Claiming that the Awami League had completely failed to run the country, Khaleda also called upon Hasina to quit power.
“There is no use of sitting with so-called parties and thugs. You [PM] must engage in dialogue with the BNP which is the largest and most popular party of Bangladesh,” Khaleda told a mass rally, organised by the 20-party alliance at Jamalpur Zilla School ground, in the afternoon.
Defending her stance against the January 5 poll, the three-time former prime minister said: “We did not make any mistake rather we have proved that the people are not with them [ruling government]. Country’s 95% people are with us as they did not go to cast their votes.”
Before the election, Hasina was positive about holding talks with the BNP and other parties over a possible mid-term poll, but after the election, she continues to deny holding any poll before 2019 saying that the people have accepted the January 5 election.
In an unprecedented move, Hasina in October last year even phoned Khaleda inviting her to a dialogue. But the BNP chief turned it down on hartal grounds, and the window for discussion has been shut since then.
Khaleda alleged that a deep-rooted conspiracy was on to split the BNP-led alliance. “The government will gain nothing by holding dialogues with Jodu, Modhu, thieves and dishonest people [leaders in the BNP-led alliance].”
She also asked the intelligence agencies to stop fulfilling the government’s political agenda of splitting the BNP-led alliance. “Stop these illegal activities. Do not do anything beyond your jurisdiction. Otherwise, you will not be spared. You will be made accountable and have to pay for it.”
Factions of five parties in the 20-party alliance have recently formed a separate group.
The former premier also warned the police forces to not carry out any illegal order of the “illegal” Awami League government. “You [police] can at best arrest people and produce them before the courts. You cannot engage yourself in carrying out killings and force disappearances.”
Blaming the government for misdeeds, corruption and repressive acts against opposition parties, Khaleda asked people to join her movement after the Eid. “We must throw out killer Sheikh Hasina administration by waging movement. It will take place in Dhaka. Convener of the city committee has vowed to do so.”
Khaleda reached Jamalpur town around 2:30pm to join the rally. Several hundred archways were erected on the roads from Dhaka to Jamalpur to welcome her.
This was Khaleda’s fifth rally outside the capital since January 5 election which was boycotted by the BNP-led alliance and most other parties.
Her tour is aimed at mobilising public opinion in favour of the 20-party alliance’s demand for a fresh election under a non-partisan government.
It also meant for mounting pressure on the government to stop extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and repressive acts, and revoking the broadcast policy and the recent amendment to the constitution.
Branding the Awami League as a party of “killers and muggers,” she said law and order of the country deteriorated sharply since the ruling party men had been involved in criminal activities including killing, abduction and mugging.
Khaleda alleged that not only the judiciary but all other institutions including the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Service Commission, administration and media had been taken under the control of the prime minister.
Criticising the government move to restore parliament’s power to remove the Supreme Court judges, the BNP chief said: “Now the services of the judges are placed under Sheikh Hasina. They will be in office as long as Hasina wants. We do not accept such law. No fair trial can be ensured by crippling the judges. They must have full freedom to ensure justice.”
She said the judges would have to deliver verdicts as per the government’s instructions, not considering merit of cases.
Khaleda alleged that because of the new broadcast policy, those who can butter the government were only allowed in the TV talk shows while the critics barred.
She also thanked Finance Minister AMA Muhith for admitting that it was wrong appointing directors at state-owned banks under political consideration. “It means the government has failed to run the country. Now Mr. Muhith should say they will quit office shouldering failure,” Khaleda said.
Regarding controversies over the recent books of Sharmin Ahmed and AK Khandakar, the BNP chief said: “Whenever anyone criticises the Awami League, they are branded as razakars and agents of ISI [Pakistani intelligence agency]. But actually the Awami League is a party of razakars...they are the agent of a country...you all know this, I do not want to mention about it.”
Khaleda and her party men have always branded the Awami League government as pro-India.