BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on September 29 sought cooperation of the members of the civil administration, military, police and Ansar-VDP to “save the country and democracy.”
“We want to wait until October 25 to see whether you [prime minister] place a bill on caretaker government in parliament. If you do not pass any bill by then, we will announce our next course of action,” she said while addressing a public rally on the Khulna Circuit House grounds.
Several thousand people, including party leaders, activists and supporters, joined the rally, which was held as part of Khaleda’s countrywide public meetings to drum up support in favour of the party’s demand for election under a non-partisan government.
Calling upon the civil administration not to oppress and torture people, Khaleda said: “We will continue the movement as elections under the current government cannot be free and fair.
“The way we are receiving people’s support, we seek similar cooperation of the civil, military, police and Ansar-VDP administrations for the protection of the country and democracy, development of the country and its wellbeing.”
The BNP chief urged the government to stop its move to build the coal-based power plant at Rampal as it would destroy the Sundarbans and its biodiversity.
“We need electricity and power plants but we will not allow anyone to build power plants at Rampal. The plant can be set up at any other suitable site but not in Rampal because it will destroy the Sundarbans,” she said.
Expressing solidarity with the ongoing movement of the National Committee to Protect Oil Gas Mineral Resources Power and Ports, Khaleda said: “We are with you. We are ready to work with you in the greater interest of the country. We are even ready to extend our all-out cooperation to you.”
Branding the Election Commission as worthless, spineless and subservient, Khaleda said fair election was not possible under this commission as it had partisan people.
“Partisan people have been appointed to the Election Commission. They have no courage to speak the truth. There are massive anomalies in the voter list. How will those, who cannot prepare a flawless voter list, hold a fair election?”
Reiterating her party’s stance not to participate in polls under Sheikh Hasina, the BNP Chief said they would not allow holding of any election under the party government and resist it at any cost.
“There is still time, so place a bill on caretaker government in parliament and pass it,” she said.
In her nearly 50-minute speech, Khaleda harshly criticised the government for its “failure” to run the state, for corruption, misrule, misdeeds and repressive acts. Issuing a note of warning, she said people across the country had awoken against the government. “No one will be able to face the rage of people if they take to the street.”
The leader of the opposition lambasted a ruling party leader who threatened public servants with sending them home if they did not obey the government’s orders. She said: “The government has realised that it will not be able to do anything by rigging vote and that is why a ruling MP has threatened the government officials. We want to tell the government that it is not the government officials but you will be sent back home as your time is over.”
Criticising the shipping minister, Khaleda said: “The government has planned to destroy the garment industry of the country. Why does the shipping minister talk about the garment industry? The government is planning to close the industry here and start operations in other country. By doing so the government aims at creating unemployment in the country.”
The BNP chief alleged that the government was humiliating respected persons like Muhammad Yunus. “You [government] will not be respected if you do not respect others. Grameen Bank should be given back to him [Yunus], otherwise the bank will be bankrupted like other state-run banks,” she said.
