Withdraw statement or face action, AL tells Khaleda

The ruling Awami League has given a 24 hour ultimatum to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for withdrawing her Monday’s statement that “affected the credibility” of country’s  law enforcers.

LGRD Minister and Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam made the announcement while expressing his party’s reaction over Khaleda’s speech, on Tuesday evening, a day after Khaleda Zia addressed a party rally at Shurawardy Uddayan.

The spokesperson of the ruling party said: “Khaleda delivered a similar speech on our law enforcer’s crackdown on Satkhira Jamaat-Shibir members that the daily Inqilab told in its report. The newspaper authority has apologised for its false report.

However, Khaleda did not do so. She has to withdraw her instigative statement immediately otherwise the government would take necessary steps,” he added.

While addressing Monday’s party rally, Khaleda Zia said: “It is difficult to believe that our law enforcers have conducted such violent drives against their own countrymen.”

She hinted the involvement of outsiders with the joint forces operation in Satkhira district.

Earlier on January 16, the daily Inqilab also produced“fabricated” news regarding the presence of the Indian military inside Bangladeshi territory.

Addressing Khaleda Zia, the spokesperson of Awami League said: “Withdraw your false statement within 24 hours otherwise the government will take necessary steps against you.”

He said: “Khaleda’s speech was full of lies. She intentionally tried to instigate the neighbouring country by questioning the role of our law enforcers.

Khaleda has a great spleen over everything.  We want immediate stoppage of such situation. None can hinder the development of democracy,” he added.

Regarding the interference of foreign envoys in our country’s politics, Ashraful said: “Khaleda Zia surrendered to ambassadors for power. She thought some ambassador would make her the country’s prime minister which is not good for our country.”

Blaming that Khaleda has failed to uphold the prestige of the country, he said: “Apart from affecting her own image, she also ruined the credibility of the country by involving foreign powers into our inside matters.”