BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said her decision to boycott the January 5 election was “right,” adding that her party did not miss the election train, rather it was the Awami League that rode the wrong train to a wrong destination.
“We did not miss the train; rather they [Awami League] rode on the wrong train. They became detached from the people as they went on a wrong path… Do not go in such a situation that a crane is needed to rescue you,” she said.
Khaleda made the comments when several sportsmen, including former goalkeeper of Bangladesh national football team Aminul Haque, joined the BNP by presenting the party chairperson a bouquet at her Gulshan office in the capital.
Regarding the BNP’s participation in upazila elections, the BNP chief said: “The government could not stop the victory of our party-backed candidates by stamping ballots and snatching away ballots forcefully. They are also planning to rig the votes in the next three phases.
“Despite such huge rigging, our candidates are in a good position. This indicates who the people are with, and this will be reflected in the next national polls,” Khaleda said.
Alleging that the government has been disseminating various propagandas and splitting the nation to stay in power, the BNP chairperson said: “This government is an illegal and unconstitutional government. They have been spreading various propagandas to divide the nation with the goal of misleading the people,” she alleged.
The former premier also claimed that people had responded to the BNP’s call, as they boycotted the January 5 polls.
“It was proved that we were right. It was proved that fair elections could not be held under the Awami League. We want the right to vote. If you are so popular then why do you fear holding elections under a non-partisan government? Why did you kill such a huge number of people?” she said.
