BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon the government to hold talks to resolve the prevailing political crisis and to work together for the restoration of democracy in the country.
“We want to work together by resolving the problem through talks and holding a fair election and restoring democracy in the country,” she said.
“They [Awami League] have been in power by force and which is why it is they who have to take the initiative immediately,” she said while addressing a rally at her party’s Nayapaltan headquarters in the capital yesterday afternoon.
“We have no anger or grievances ... We have suffered a lot. We have forgotten. We will not show any anger to you [government] ... Be gentle and modest and just admit that you have made mistakes. Let us work together for the sake of the country,” Khaleda said.
The much-hyped January 5 rally marked the second anniversary of the January 5 election – which the BNP had boycotted – terming the day “Democracy Killing Day.” It ended peacefully with the participation of several thousand party leaders and activists.
As the public meeting was one in a long time, party leaders and activists started thronging the venue with colourful placards and festoons from around noon.
Eventually, the rally spilled on to the Fakirerpol intersection to the east and the Nightingale intersection to the west.
The meeting formally started at 2pm with its Standing Committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy in the chair. Khaleda Zia arrived at 2:50pm amid claps and slogans of her followers.
In her speech, the BNP chief expressed her delight to participate in a public rally after a long time.
She said: “The Awami League is scared of the BNP rally and that is why it imposed a number of restrictions on the rally.”
About the election of January 5, 2014, Khaleda said none except for the Awami League and its alliance partners participated in the election.
She alleged that the Awami League and the “worthless and spineless” Election Commission together killed the country’s democracy by holding that “farcical election.”
“Now you have realised and allowed us to hold the rally. I hope they will return democratic rights to the opposition parties,” said Khaleda.
Urging the government, the former premier said: “Come to the right track shunning the path of killing and abduction. Come to the path of democracy. Otherwise when people wake up, nobody knows what will befall you.”
Khaleda alleged that the recent municipal polls saw tremendous vote rigging and illegal ballot-stuffing.
“It would not be possible to assess the popularity of the government by holding any local government election.”
About the government’s claim of huge development activities in the country, Khaleda said: “Only some flyovers in the capital do not necessarily indicate development. There are no development activities in the rest of the country.”
She presented a gloomy picture of the country’s law and order, economy and price hike of daily essentials.
“The government is taking up big projects only to plunder money … they have emptied banks through looting and made a dent in public pockets by imposing VAT and hiking prices of oil, gas, electricity and daily essentials,” said Khaleda.
Regarding the ongoing movement of teachers and other professionals, she said: “There is no way that teachers can be humiliated. This is discriminating. It will further heat up the country’s political situation.”
On Monday Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Dhaka South City Corporation allowed the Awami League and the BNP to hold rallies in front of their respective party offices under some conditions. The arch rivals had previously wished to hold the rallies in Suhrawardy Udyan.
