Dhaka, Feb 3 (Just News): Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Saturday called on her party men to remain united even during the period of her absence and to face the situation peacefully.
Less than a week before a trial court is set to deliver its verdict in a graft case filed against the former prime minister, Khaleda Zia made the call at the inaugural session of the party's national executive committee's daylong meeting at Hotel Le Meridian in the capital.
Around 450 leaders, including standing committee members, executive committee members, and vice-chairmen, chairperson's advisers and presidents and secretaries of the party's different associate bodies, attended the meeting.
Quoting a Supreme Court observation, Khaleda Zia alleged that the lower courts “are under the grasp of the government. They can't function freely and independently.”
She went on saying, “They [ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL)] want to keep the BNP out of the elections.”
At this stage, the BNP chairperson asked the audience whether they will remain united. “We will remain united,” she asked the audience to tell so.
BNP activists in the audience then chanted slogans: “Our leader Our Ma [mother], we’ll not let her land in jail.”
Recalling the effort to split the BNP in the past, BNP chairperson said there will be much repression and torture to the split the party in the days to come.
“One of my sons could not survive the torture. Tarique is still recovering. Even I’m not afraid of any intimidation. I’m with you no matter wherever I stay. None will be able to intimidate me. I’m with our party men and with the people of Bangladesh.”
Warning the party men against creating any division in the party (during her absence), Khaleda said, “There will be no room in the party for those who will betray and those who will keep one foot on two boats simultaneously. You will go to another side for a while and again come to this side again - it’ll not be acceptable.”
Urging her part men to face the situation unitedly, she said, “One can be forgiven for once, but not for time and again.”
She said the people want to get rid of the misrule, repression and jail terms.
“That’s why, they want a change and the change must come through democratic means, through an election, and not any other means,” she added.
Iterating her demand for holding the next general election under a “party-neutral poll-time” government, the former prime minister - who is outside power for over 11 years - said, “An environment must be ensured so that people can turn up at the polling stations. To the end, the troops must be deployed to maintain law and order during the polls. Only then a fair poll is possible.”
She went to say, “We want to state loud and clear that no EVM should be used, parliament must be dissolved before the polls, because this is not a legitimate parliament. All parties’ participation must be ensured in the polls.”
Voicing her dismay at the country’s situation even 46 years into the independence, she said the people want to see democracy, freedom of press, and peace effectively functioning in the country.
“There is One [Allah] overhead. Let’s see how far they can go. Allah will pull the sting once the time is ripe,” said Khaleda.
Apparently calling her political rival AL to shun hatred, vengeance, killing and violence, Khaleda said, “Give election through which the people will vote their representatives whomever they want to power.”
The former prime minister underscored the need for building a national consensus to take the country forward, she said, “BNP, 20-party alliance as well as the people of Bangladesh will rise up against the misrule to save the country through forging a national consensus.”
“We don’t believe in vendetta. Those who are torturing us today, we will also forgive them and will take them on board,” she added.
(Justnews/ys/1250hr)
