BNP chairperson and leader of the opposition, Khaleda Zia, has urged the government to pave the path of politics of unity, shunning the way of blue print policy in the interest of holding of the next general elections in a peaceful manner. “We believe in the politics of unity, instead of separation. Time is still there, let’s go to the table for dialogue, and pave the path for holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government,” she said.
Earlier, the Awami League-raised CG restoration demand had been fulfilled. Now, the government should do the same showing minimum respect to the opposition’s demand.
“If voted to power, we will move forward the country on the basis of politics of unity. We will also welcome the Awami League, if it is re-elected, by participating in the next general election under CG oversight,” Khaleda Zia said.
Khaleda was addressing an iftar party hosted by Bangladesh Federal Journalists’ Union (BFJU) and Dhaka Journalists’ Union (DJU), at the National Press Club on Wednesday.
About the scopes and nature of the CG provision, Khaleda Zia said the election-time CG management will be held responsible only for conducting the national polls in a free, fair and impartial manner.
After facing absolute debacle in the recently held civic body polls, the government has become afraid of taking part in the parliamentary election under a non-party CG management, she said.
The government had tried to manipulate the local body elections, but failed in the face of people’s pressure. No impartial election can be held under the Hasina administration, she observed.
“People want to see the Awami League in power, so, it is engaged in preparing a blue-print to hang on to power forever, through illegal means,” she alleged.
The former premier said the country and its development is heading towards ruin, as the Awami League has plunged into unbridled corruption and misdeeds.
The government-sponsored acts of terrorism and partisan press has affected all organs of the state. Its judiciary, education and police departments have already been destroyed, due the government’s nepotism and partisan decisions, she said. Khaleda Zia, also the chief of the 18-Party Alliance, blamed the government for pushing the country to the brink of collapse, saying everyone should come forward to protect the country and its people.
Terming the government as repressive, she said that law enforcers used around 1.55 lakh bullets to disperse Hefazat-e-Islami Bangladesh (HIB) activists from the Motijheel Shapla Chattar, on May 5. “A good number of HIB activists were killed and the government dumped the bodies at a secret place. But, the government is propagating falsehood, without publishing the real facts and figures of the day’s bloody incidents,” she blamed.
She said the Awami League has done nothing for peoples’ welfare, during its all most five-year tenure. It has embezzled state resources, halting its development and progress, she alleged.
“If we are voted to power in the next general election, all the corrupt people of the Awami League will be brought to book for trial,” she warned.
The government does not believe in media freedom and, so, Nayadiganta and Islamic TV channels have been taken off air, and Amar Desh acting editor, Mahmudur Rahman, has been sent to jail, she said.
The government should ensure release of Mahmudur Rahman and withdraw the embargo imposed on the two private TV channels, immediately, on democratic ground, she added.
She also criticised the government for its failure to nab the main criminal behind the murder of journalist couple Sagar and Runi.
-With The Independent input
