BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia
Opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Friday asked the government to call the national election under a non-party and neutral caretaker government to test its popularity instead of spending ‘public money’ in the electoral campaign.
“The government is busy with electoral campaign using money from the national exchequer. If you’ve done good deeds and if you think you’re popular, test your popularity calling the election under a non-party and neutral caretaker government,” she said.
The BNP chief was exchanging greetings with noted citizens, foreign diplomats and the cross-section of people at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims.
Pointing at the government, Khaleda said, “Still there’s time. If you love the country and its people, arrange the election after passing a nonparty government bill. Then, we won’t go for any movement and we’ll accept the election result whatever it might be.”
Claiming BNP does not believe in the politics of division, she said, “We want the politics of unity as well as stability and development of the country.”
Terming the government ‘failed’ on all fronts, the former prime minister said country’s people are not well because of the government. “No one can celebrate the Eid in peace.”
Bringing various corruption allegations against the government, she said people do not want to see the government in power for a moment.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Jamir Uddin Sircar, MK Anwar, MA Gani, Moudud Ahmed, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy were, among others, on the podium.
Khaleda exchanged Eid greetings for nearly two hours from 10:45am to 12:50pm.
Envoys of 25-30 countries, including the USA, Saudi Arabia and Nepal, attended the function.
Former presidents of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Anisul Haque and AK Azad, Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Atiqul Islam and FBCCI director Abdul Haque also joined the function.
The BNP chairperson exchanged Eid greetings at the Ladies Club at Eskatan in the last five years, but this year she chose Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
After exchanging greetings, Khaleda laid a wreath at the grave of party founder late president Ziaur Rahman and offered Fateha there.
Source: The Daily Star
