Khaleda for fresh dialogue to resolve crisis

AL lost either side being alienated from people, she says

 

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday urged the government to take immediate steps for holding fresh dialogue to resolve the current political impasse and install a democratic government.

 

“This is an illegal government and an illegal government doesn’t have any responsibility to people … it’s very dangerous to allow such a government to prolong,” she said addressing a press conference at city’s Westin Hotel.

 

Khaleda met the press for the first time on Wednesday after the January 5 10th parliament elections held amid boycott by her party-led 18-party alliance.

 

Unlike recent press conferences, the BNP chief, who lost her official portfolio as the opposition leader, answered to a few questions from journalists.

 

The former premier said: “There’s no alternative to an election with the participation of all under a non-party government that will reflect the will of people. Otherwise, it’s not possible to restore peace and stability in the country. So, we ask the government to take an initiative in this regard.”

 

To create an environment for dialogue and compromise, she urged the government to release all the detained political leaders and activists of the BNP alliance and withdraw the ‘false’ cases filed against them, and reopen the closed political offices to reactivate political activities.

 

The BNP chief said the January-5 ‘flawed’ polls have proved that the BNP-led 18-party’s demand for the caretaker government to oversee the parliamentary elections was justified.

 

She claimed that the government has snatched the democratic rights of people through the ‘lopsided farcical’ the election. “This has proved that free, fair, neutral and credible elections can’t be held under a partisan government… it has also proved that the current Election Commission is totally worthless, incompetent, failed and subservient to the government.”

 

Khaleda thanked the country’s people for what she said staging a silent revolution on January 5 against the unjust, repression, snatching of voting right and the democracy-annihilating regime.

 

Mentioning that no mentionable political party except the AL allies took part in the election, Khaleda said the country’s people boycotted the polls and it did not get acceptability both at home and abroad.

 

“Though 5 percent vote was not cast, the puppet Election Commission has announced that the voter turnout was 40 percent,” she added.

 

The BNP chief deplored that democracy in the country has been annihilated through the elections. “Democracy in Bangladesh is dead now. The country has become devoid of democracy. So, again a new struggle has begun for restoring democracy.”

 

In her written speech, the BNP chief harshly criticised the Awami League-led regime for what she said its limitless repressive acts, harassment of opposition leaders and activists, filing of ‘false’ cases against them and snatching people’s democratic, voting and basic rights.

 

Rejecting the allegation brought against the 18-party alliance for attacking on minorities, Khaleda alleged that the ruling party men are carrying out attacks to diver people’s attention to different direction from the farcical election. “We condemn the attacks… I call upon our leaders and activists to create a strong resistance in the minority-dominated areas against the heinous communal attacks.”

 

She urged the government to punish those involved in the incidents after identifying them through fair investigations.

Khaleda said the government will not be able to cling to power using force and muscle power, no matter what efforts they make.

 

The BNP chief, however, promised the nation that they will not follow or repeat the misdeeds of the Awami League if they are voted to power.

 

Expressing her strong belief that the country’s people will get back their voting rights soon, Khaleda said democracy will be restored in the country and people will be able to install the government of their choice.

 

Depicting a future action programmes, the former premier assured that her party, if returns to power, will formulate a permanent framework of power transfer. “We would restore healthy politics through a consensus by removing confrontation,” she told journalists.

 

She also said they would take strong measures to resist terrorism, militancy, communalism, corruption, politicisation and nepotism.

 

Promising to bring time-worthy reforms in election system, Khaleda said they would give due respect and importance to the opposition.

 

She also promised to ensure the independence of the Grameen Bank. “The only noble laureate, Prof Mohammad Yunus, would properly be honored.”

 

In reply to a remark of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that BNP has lost all the hopes, Khaleda said, “We didn’t lost any hope as we’re with people rather it’s Awami League which has lost the hope being alienated from people.

 

Asked whether they got any proposal from the government for talks and compromise after the elections, Khaleda said her party is yet to get any such proposal.

 

Khaleda also ruled out the involvement of the 18-party leaders and activists in violence. “BNP doesn’t believe in violence and it never had any link to violence. Our movement is people-oriented one. Our movement was on right track. We believe in democracy and people’s development.”

 

Asked whether they will sever ties with Jamaat as demanded by the government for reaching a compromise, Khaleda refrained from giving any direct answer.

 

Recalling the ruling party’s past relation with the Islamist party, the BNP chief said Awami League had joined polls in 1986 with Jamaat and initiated movement with the party for caretaker government in 1996. “So, Awami League was always with Jamaat”.

 

Sought her comment on foreign diplomats’ intervention in the country’s politicos, Khaleda said they want good relations with all countries, including the neighbouring ones. “But we don’t support diplomats’ intervention in internal politics and we believe in the power of people.”

 

Reiterating that their movement will continue, Khaleda announced that rallies and processions will be held on January 20 across the country to thank people for boycotting the January 5 polls.

 

As part of the programme, a rally will also be held at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.

 

On January 29, demonstrations will be staged across the country with black flags.

 

Besides, Khaleda and her party senior leaders will visit some districts across the country in an effort to gear up their movement.

 

The former premier arrived at the venue at 3:58 pm and the press conference began at 4 pm.

 

Prior to the start of the press conference, a 45-minute documentary was screened on how people ‘boycotted’ the January 5 national election.

 

BNP standing committee members Dr RA Gani, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Lt Gen Mahbubur Rahman, Jamiruddin Sircar, Sarwari Rahman, Abdul Moyeen Khan, vice-chairman Shah Moazeem Hossain, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, chairperson’s adviser Osman Faruk, Prof MA Mannan, M Abdul Mannan, Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, Reaz Rahman, Sabih Uddin Ahmed, LDP chairman Oli Ahmed, BJP chairman Andaleev Rahman Partha, Jamaat leader Redwan Ullah Shahidi, Islami Oikya  Jote chairman Abdul Latif Nejami, Jagpa chairman Shafiul Alam Pradhan, Kallayan party chairman Syed Mohammad Ibrahim were, among others, present.

Source: UNB Connect