Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday asked the government to come to the path of consensus shunning ‘conspiracies’ and stop ‘repression’ on the opposition for the sake of peace in the country. In a press statement, Khaleda, also leader of the opposition, urged the Election Commission to postpone the election schedule for the 10th parliamentary election to ‘save’ the country rather than being used as a ‘pawn’ by a ‘certain party’ for holding a unilateral election.
She requested all concerned not to get involved in the process of a ‘farcical’ election.
Khaleda urged the administration and law enforcement agencies to ‘neutrally’ carry out their responsibilities and not to take a ‘stand against the people’.
She urged each leader and activist of the 18-party alliance, other democratic parties, professionals and social organisations involved in the movement to ensure that there were no attacks on innocent people anywhere and no damage to their property.
She protested at the barbaric arson and bomb attacks on transports and on innocent people by ‘unknown’ miscreants.
Khaleda said that when the BNP-led 18-party alliance, other democratic parties, professionals and social organisations were carrying out movement for a system for holding a free, fair and acceptable election participated by all, ‘unknown’ miscreants were mounting barbaric attacks on the innocent people and taking their lives.
She said miscreants were burning people to death by hurling bombs and setting fire to transports and not even sparing elderly people and children.
Khaleda said the screams of arson victims in hospital beds proved that public security system had failed. She asked how such barbaric attacks could be mounted amid strong presence of law enforcers in different areas of the capital adding that it remained a ‘mystery’ that the perpetrators had escaped safely and so far none was arrested on the spot.
The BNP chief said the government was blaming the opposition for the crimes instead of arresting the perpetrators.
Unleashing ‘armed terrorists’ backed by law enforcers and keeping the BNP office besieged, the ruling party was asking the opposition to confront it in the streets, she said.
In this situation, she said, the government was claiming that atmosphere was prevailing for election but none would accept it.
She said various friendly countries and international community, including the UN human rights chief were deeply concerned over the present situation in the country.
Khaleda said such heinous activities and uncertainties could not continue in a civilised and democratic country.
She said the government, having failed to understand the gravity of the situation, was doing ‘narrow politics’ for its own gains.
-With New Age input
