Shahidul Islam Chowdhury . Kushtia
Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday called for a consensus among all political parties to work together for making the country strong and prosperous.
She asked her party activists to remain alert on December 29, the national polling day, so that none could rig the polls.
‘We will be able to build a strong and prosperous country if all political parties forge a unity and work together for greater interest of the people’, she said at a mammoth election rally at Kushtia stadium.
Khaleda Zia started her two-day electioneering tour of southwestern districts Sunday morning and addressed more than a dozen rallies before halting at Jessore for overnight stay.
The BNP chief, who passed through Manikganj, Rajbari, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga and Magura on Sunday, is scheduled to address rallies at Jessore, Satkhira, Bagerhat and Khulna today.
Tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters carrying party flag, banners, festoons and paddy sheaf chanted slogans welcoming the former prime minister at the rallies.
People who could not find a place on the ground were seen atop nearby buildings and high trees at many places. Attendance of women supporters was quite significant.
It was Khaleda’s first trip to these districts since her release from prison on September 11.
The BNP chief introduced her party candidates in different constituencies of the districts and handed over a sheaf of paddy amidst cheers.
Speaking at the rallies, Khaleda Zia said people wanted election and would like to see an elected government in power.
She cautioned her voters to stand guard against any move to rig the December 29 polls.
‘Everybody has to go to the polling centre early in the morning to cast their votes and guard against any attempt at rigging’, she said at the huge public meeting at Kushtia.
Reiterating her election pledges, the former prime minister assured voters that her party, if voted to power, would work for increasing production in the fields and industries to reduce dependence on foreign assistance and to bring prices of essentials within the reach of the common people.
She assured farmers of subsidies to inputs like seeds and fertiliser.
The BNP chairperson said her party, if voted to power, would lay stress on vocational and practical education for ensuring employment. She also pledged to ensure women’s empowerment and business development.
Khaleda also assured locals that char lands would be leased out among landless farmers.
Two bridges over river Padma, one at Mawa of Munshiganj and the other at Paturia of Manikganj, are under active consideration of the BNP, she said.
The day’s largest rally was held at Gangni high school ground in Meherpur. The rally started at 9:30pm. Thousands of people attended the gathering defying heavy fog and cold. Responding to the audience’s repeated request to narrate her jail experience, Khaleda told them she would write memoirs of her days in jail. ‘They tried to send me into exile and as I refused to leave the country and the people, they put me behind bars. My sons were tortured to put pressure on me but I did not bow down’, Khaleda told the audience.
BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, party leaders Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Habibur Rahman Habib and local polls candidates – Afroza Khan Rita (Manikganj-2), Harunur Rashid Khan Monno (Manikganj-3), Ali Newaz Mahmud Khyom (Rajbari-1), Nasirul Huq Sabu (Rajbari-2), Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi (Kushtia-4), Sohrab Uddin (Kushtia-3), professor Shahidul Islam (Kushtia-2), Mohammad Amjad Hossain (Meherpur-2) Masud Arun (Meherpur-1), Ohidul Islam Biswas (Chuadanga-1) and Nitai Roy Chowdhury (Magura-2) – also addressed the rallies.
Courtesy: newagebd.com
