BNP chairperson and leader of the opposition, Khaleda Zia, has urged the government to sit across the table for dialogue with the opposition party for bringing back the non-party caretaker government (CG) provision to the Constitution in its previous form.
“Restore the non-party CG provision to the Constitution in its previous form and shape through dialogue among you (govt) or with us immediately by bringing another amendment to the charter. Otherwise, we will never allow any election under a party government management,” said Khaleda.
Khaleda was addressing an Iftar party, hosted by the party’s Dhaka City unit, at the L D Hall of the parliament complex premises on Sunday.
Except indulging in corruption, the ruling Awami League did nothing during its almost five-year tenure. “We believe in the country’s political stability and people’s peace and security. We also believe in democracy, movement in disciplined manner and dialogue,” she said.
Khaleda said people from all classes have already taken anti-government position and so the ruling Awami League is afraid of taking part in the next general election under a non-party CG oversight.
She added that the country is passing through a critical time and people are suffering due to the government’s misdeeds.
People want change to get rid of the prevailing crisis as well as the repressive rule of the Awami League, she said. “If we are voted to power, we will ensure the change and relief of people by establishing good governance in the country,” she added.
While addressing the Iftar party, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir criticised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her irresponsible remarks implicating party’s senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman in the August 21 grenade attack charge.
“After being a supreme executive authority of the country, Hasina cannot say anything about any sub-judice matter. Her remark against Tarique Rahman is blatantly tantamount to contempt of court and unjustified interference in the judiciary,” he alleged.
It may be pointed out that Hasina on Thursday alleged that the leader of the opposition, Khaleda Zia, and her elder son Tarique Rahman, tried to hang on to power by killing her through the August 21 grenade attack in 2004.
The opposition leader had tried to remain in power by killing me,” she said in her opening speech at a views-exchange meeting with the grassroots leaders of Awami League from Netrakona.
Alamgir said the ruling Awami League has been defeated 5-0 in the civic body polls. The same will happen in the next general election if it is held under a non-party CG oversight, he added.
Sadeque Hossain Khoka, vice-chairman of the party, vowed that the nationalist forces would sacrifice their blood to resist the government’s efforts to hold the next general poll under its own management.
-With The Independent input
