BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to come up with a specific proposal on the interim non-party government issue.
“Otherwise, we will declare programmes which will compel you people [the government] to flee,” Khaleda, also the opposition chief, said while addressing a mass rally at capital’s Motijheel Saturday afternoon.
Khaleda also invited Prime Minister and ruling Awami League President Sheikh Hasina to her residence to have a cup of tea together and talk on the caretaker government issue.
“I am inviting her [Sheikh Hasina] to my house to have a cup of tea and discuss the caretaker or neutral government issue,” she stated, adding, “Create an environment. We would like to discuss the issue of holding the next national elections under neutral government for the sake of continuation of democracy in the country.”
Coming down heavily on the present government for its failure in different sectors and involvement with financial corruption, the
BNP chief called upon the government to eliminate ‘crazy’ ministers from the cabinet and sit with the opposition to lead the country forward.
She accused the government of graft in the Hallmark, Padma Bridge, Destiny and share market scandals.
The BNP chief further claimed that the government delayed rescue operations in Savar. More lives could have been saved if the government had started the operations immediately, she observed, adding that the government unnecessarily rejected foreign assistance in the rescue effort.
Khaleda criticised the government for not declaring a holiday paying respect to the victims of the Savar accident.
Referring to the prime minister’s call to donate money instead of holding Saturday’s rally, Khaleda said, “We don’t hire people to our rallies, people come spontaneously.”
She also blamed the government for the disappearance of two BNP leaders Chowdhury Alam and Ilias Ali.
“You [the government] ordered Ilias Ali’s disappearance by special force. We want Chowdhury Alam and Ilias Ali back among us,” she demanded.
Khaleda urged the government to withdraw all ‘false’ cases filed against the opposition activists and release detained opposition men.
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters started gathering at the venue at Motijheel since morning where the top leaders of 18-party alliance also spoke. At its peak in the afternoon, the rally drew more than a hundred thousand people, our correspondent estimated.
