The Awami League-led 14-party leaders yesterday strongly criticised BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia as the 20-party alliance she leads has called a 72-hour hartal from today.
Meanwhile, ruling party Publicity Secretary Hasan Mahmud claimed law enforcers had not barred BNP members from carrying food inside Khaleda’s office. He alleged the BNP leaders were making false statements about this.
“Meals are being cooked regularly in her [Khaleda’s] office. Furthermore, huge amounts of food are being taken to the office by her party members. The police have never barred them. This is simply drama being staged by the BNP, and partial news published by some particular media to create confusion among the public,” he told reporters at the party president’s Dhanmondi office yesterday.
The former minister also questioned why Khaleda’s office needed food for 50-60 persons every day. “Is it a shelter of terrorists?”
The 20-party alliance yesterday called a fresh 72-hour shutdown amid the indefinite blockade, demanding resignation of the government and announcement of a midterm election. For this, the government rescheduled today’s SSC exams for February 20.
Hasan Mahmud, at another programme yesterday, asked Khaleda, a three-time former premier, to resign as the BNP chief, and admit her failure to gain public support in favour of the ongoing anti-government movement.
He also said Khaleda should shoulder responsibility for the deaths and injuries, and the destruction of property during the agitation in force from January 6.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said yesterday the BNP chairperson should be sued on charge of sedition for carrying out an anti-state movement in the name of blockade and hartals.
“Khaleda Zia made a mistake by staying away from the January 5 election last year. I think she should give up politics as a penalty,” Muhith said, while addressing a programme at Dhaka University.
At the same event, Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam said there was no scope of compromise with the “terrorists” and that no dialogue would be held. “Dialogue can be held on the basis of international initiatives, only if they [BNP-Jamaat alliance] admit their immorality.”
Primary and Mass Education Minister Mustafizar Rahman Fizar alleged the petrol bomb attacks were being carried out with the money financed by [war crimes convict] Chowdhury Mueen Uddin.”
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said nobody and no conspiracy would be able to stop the progress of Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh’s future is very bright. It will surely turn into a middle-income country,” he said at programme at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
The senior Awami League leader said the country’s businesspeople were languishing due to the violent attacks perpetrated in the blockade and hartal enforced by BNP chief Khaleda Zia. “She has declared war against the country in the guise of a movement,” he added.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said Khaleda was working to destroy the country’s education system, disregarding the troubles faced by the SSC examinees.
“They have called a hartal again, to create more destruction even after staging agitation programmes without any obstructions across the country. Dialogue cannot be held in a situation like this,” said Menon, also president of the Workers Party, at human chain on Bailey Road of the capital yesterday.
Food Minister Quamrul Islam also attended the programme, and warned against people who gave provocative speeches involving the armed forces.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon Islamic scholars to build public opinion against those who kill and torture people, while preaching the essence of Islam.
The PM made the call while addressing the inaugural ceremony of International Sufi Conference 2015 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka yesterday.