Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Zia has asked the government of Sheikh Hasina to quit and not to buy further time.
Addressing a public meeting in Munshiganj on Wednesday afternoon, Begum Zia said “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.”
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.
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.
Addressing the rally, Khaleda criticised the government for growing incidents of killing and forced disappearance and countrywide 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, Begum Zia 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.
Khaleda threatens to wage a fresh movement
Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday night threatened to wage a fresh movement soon to oust the current regime bereaving bullets and repressive acts.
“We’ll soon launch a movement. So, you (party men) all reorganise the party at every level. I’ll announce such a programme this time that no one will retreat from it. People will even get ready to brave bullets,” she told a meeting with the family members of two missing Comilla BNP leaders. The former Prime Minister further said, “How many shots will they fire? How many people will they kill? How many people will they send to jail? We must resist them and restore peace in the country and ensure security for its people by dislodging this regime.”
The family members of missing former BNP MP and Laksam upazila BNP president Saiful Islam Hiru and Laksam pourasava BNP president Humayun Kabir Parvez met BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office. Hiru and Parvez’s family members are claiming that the two BNP leaders have remained missing since they were picked up by some members of Rab-11 on November 27.
Consoling the bereaved family members, Khaleda said the Prime Minister must be accountable and face trial for making people disappeared. “Hasina one day must cry as the tears of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children will not go in vain.” She suggested the family members of those made disappeared to go to the international court on their own initiatives for having justice and stop this menace.
Khaleda also warned that they have all information about those Rab officials indulging in killings, abductions and forced disappearances. “No one will be spared.” She lamented that Rab members are not only tarnishing the image of the country but also the image of the Armed Forces by committing such misdeeds. The BNP chief renewed her demand for disbanding Rab saying this force has now become a symbol of horror.
Earlier, the family members of the two victims narrated Khaleda how the two BNP leaders were made disappeared. Hiru’s wife Farida Islam, daughter Tasnuba Islam and son Rafanul Islam and Parvez’s wife Sahanaj Akhter, son Sahriar Kabir and daughters Ishita and Jannat were present at the meeting. Khaleda talked to each of them and consoled them saying to have patience and pray to the Almighty Allah for the safe return of the two BNP leaders. “We’re with you. The offenders must be punished here and hereafter.”
Source: Weekly Holida
