Five months into the publication of her article in The Washington Times, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has denied sending the US newspaper any write-up seeking a withdrawal of trade benefits for Bangladesh.
“It’s out of the question. I did not send that newspaper any write-up seeking suspension of the GSP facilities for Bangladesh. I am not the author of that article and I have the proof in this regard,” Khaleda said while taking part in the budget discussion.
The opposition leader also said she would present the proof in due time in favour of her claim.
“Failing to retain GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) facilities, the government is spreading propaganda to create confusion,” Khaleda said in parliament yesterday afternoon.
The article, “ZIA: The thankless role in saving democracy in Bangladesh”, appeared in the opinion section of the English daily January 30, drawing huge attention from people at home and abroad.
The much-talked about piece had Begum Khaleda Zia in the byline and “former prime minister of Bangladesh and current leader of the opposition” as the writer’s details at the bottom.
“They [US authorities] also must explain to Ms. Hasina that general preferences for trade will be withdrawn if those who support workers’ rights and have political views opposed to those of the prime minister are not now allowed to express their beliefs,” the item reads.
In her speech yesterday, Khaleda said, “It was the Aminul murder and the Rana Plaza collapse that brought in the decision of GSP suspension. I would like to urge the government not to shift its failures on to others. Stop such propaganda at this critical stage.”
In reply, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina questioned if it was not the opposition leader, then who wrote it?
While Khaleda denied that she did not write that article, Hasina smilingly waved a copy of the article as published in The Washington Times.
The BNP chief immediately responded, saying “I did not write that, it was not my article.”
Hasina during her speech on the budget said, “The language of her (Khaleda) budget speech today and in the article is very much identical.”
“You all will get the article available on the internet at present. There can be nothing more shameful and unfortunate than for a person to write against her country,” she said amid continuous shouts by opposition lawmakers.
BNP leaders at that point did not deny the article written by the party chief Khaleda. They rather said there was nothing of anti-state interest element in the write-up. They also said it was the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina who, during the last BNP-Jamaat alliance government, had appealed to the European Union to impose a ban on grants to Bangladesh.
Source: The Daily Star
