She renews demand for disbanding Rab
Observing that her party has given the ruling party enough time following the January-5 election, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday asked the government to quit forthwith and arrange a fresh election under a non-party administration.
“We’ve given you (govt) five months following a voter-less election. So, don’t buy further time. Stop killings and forced disappearances, and restore democracy, the rule of law and peace in the country by holding a fresh election,” she told a public rally.
Munshiganj district unit BNP organised the rally at Hatlaxmiganj near Launchghat to protest what it said countrywide killings, forced disappearances and abductions and corruption.
Reiterating her demand for disbanding Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Khaleda said the elite force members are now involved in the “business of killing and forced disappearance”.
“Some civil society members are calling for reforming Rab instead of disbanding it. There’ll be no use of reforming the force as it has now got infected with gangrene and cancer. That’s why antibiotic and cutting of its any organ won’t bring any result. The force must be dissolved.”
She likened Rab to the post-independence Rakkhi Bahini that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s government had formed to fight particularly the Sarbahara rebels.
Khaleda accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government of using the elite force for abductions, forced disappearances and killings of political opponents.
She claimed that Rab had served people and fought militants during her tenure as the prime minister. “Rab has now become a symbol of horror.”
The BNP chairperson suggested that another force can be formed with specific duties after consulting with all concerned and this force will be accountable to people.
This was Khaleda’s second rally outside the capital after the January 5 election. Her first rally was held in Rajbari on March 1.
In the last one month, the government barred BNP from holding a rally in the capital at least five times where the BNP chief was scheduled to address.
Addressing the rally, Khaleda criticised the government for countrywide growing incidents of killing and forced disappearance and urged people to get united to oust the administration by “sweeping away.”
“Awami League had been remained out of power for 21 years earlier. Now you [people] take such a measure so that it can’t come to power in the next 42 years,” she said.
The former Prime Minister alleged that the current regime has made many people cry by killing their family members and repressing them. “This time, Awami League has to cry. They [AL men] will cry and beg to you [people] by holding your hands and legs. But you (AL men) won’t get pardon as you have committed grievous crimes.”
Describing the current government and parliament as illegal, she said the administration is holding office only based on falsehood and repressive acts. “But it can’t continue for long.”
The BNP chief accused the ruling party men of indulging in terrorism, tender manipulation, corruption and grabbing.
Lambasting Sheikh Hasina for not allowing her to hold rally in the capital, Khaleda said the government is not allowing them to hold any rally as it suffers from fear of people.
Holding Hasina responsible for the Narayanganj seven murders, she said the Prime Minister must be accountable for the killings and brought to book as she is in charge of the Home Ministry.
The BNP chief demanded that the government ensure highest punishment to the three former Rab officials arrested in connection with the seven murders, and scrap their all types of service benefits.
Turning to the arrest of Fulgazi BNP president Mahtabuddin Chowdhury Minar in connection with killing of upazila chairman Ekramul Haque, Khaleda alleged that the innocent BNP leader was detained to hush up the involvement of ruling party men with the brutal killing.
She demanded that the government free Minar immediately.
Source: UNB Connect
