Opposition BNP on Wednesday alleged that the government has exposed its worst fascist attitude and political bankruptcy by confining the opposition leader to her residence.
“Desh Netri Khaleda Zia is still in confinement. We think she has apparently been kept under house arrest,” said BNP vice chairman Selima Rahman.
The BNP leader brought the allegation at a press conference at her Gulshan residence on the first day of the BNP-led 18-party’ non-stop blockade.
She said the law enforcers have kept the opposition leader confined to her Gulshan residence by parking sand-laden truck on the roads on two sides of the house since the announcement of the ‘March for Democracy’ programme. “No leaders and activists are allowed to meet her (Khaleda). The law enforcers are arresting those going to visit her. We condemn the government’s heinous and autocratic attitude.”
As her attention was drawn to the Environment Minister’s remark that Khaleda kept herself confined to her house, Selima said, “The minister’s comment is nothing but a blatant lie. If she is not confined why does the law forcers are deployed around her residence by keeping sand-loaded trucks in front of it?”
Posing a counter-question, she said why did not the government allow the opposition leader to go to Nayapaltan to attend the abortive ‘March for Democracy programme and obstruct her from going to her Gulshan office if she is not under house arrest?
The BNP leader alleged that the joint forces raided the houses and the opposition leaders and activists, and arrested many of them across the country on the first day of the non-stop blockade. “They’re killing and injuring people in the country’s different districts by firing gunshots.
Claiming that the Prime Minister is not getting any response from voters during her election campaign, Selima alleged that Sheikh Hasina is conducting campaign on an empty field for a unilateral election spending public money.
“This electioneering is no way acceptable to the country’s people. We also clearly state that the country’s people won’t accept the January 5 election and it won’t get acceptability at home and abroad,” the BNP vice chairman said.
She called upon the government to come to the path of compromise by cancelling the election schedule and hold the general election under a non-party government.
Referring to Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid’s comment that their understanding of Bangladesh should be helpful to the US, Selima said the Indian Minister’s remark is unexpected, unbecoming and regrettable.
“While the US is at some distance from Bangladesh, we’re right next to it. So our understanding of the region and understanding of sentiments of the people in the region should be helpful in the positions they want to take,” the Hindu, an influential Indian English daily, quoted the Indian External Affairs Minister in a report published on Monday.
Selima claimed that their first day of the nationwide non-stop blockade despite the government’s repressive acts.
BNP assistant office secretaries Abdul Latif Jony and Shamimur Rahman Shamim were present at the press conference.
Source: UNBConnect
