Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia on Saturday gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the government for announcement accepting BNP’s demand for an interim non-party caretaker government for holding the next general election in the country. “We have already given you a lot of time for declaration about a non-party and neutral caretaker government for overseeing the next poll. We cannot give you anymore time,” she told the government at a mammoth rally amidst thunderous applause at Shapla Chattar of Motijheel.
Apparently firm on her party’s long-standing demand for a poll-time caretaker government, Khaleda Zia wanted to know from the crowd if they would gather again after the 48-hour deadline if asked to do so, the crowd instantly responded with one voice: “Yes, yes!”
Khaleda Zia, also the leader of the 18-party alliance which organized Saturday’s rally, extended an invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to sit down for dialogue over a cup of tea. She, however, said the central point of any dialogue with the government must be caretaker government issue as demanded by them.
The BNP chief, who is also a two-time former prime minister, stated in clear terms that a mere proposal for talks does not go far enough. The government must make a categorical statement that the next election would be held under a neutral and non-party caretaker government.
The opposition leader said the restoration of the caretaker government for overseeing the next general election is extremely important for democracy, people’s rights and national interest. “Make the declaration on caretaker government and then come to participate in the next election,” she asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Khaleda Zia laughed off the initial verbal invitation for talks extended to her by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and said it was a ploy to keep the 18-party alliance led by her party BNP from holding Saturday’s pre-announced rally.
“If you do not set up a neutral and non-party caretaker government, the consequence will be very grave,” she warned the government.
She described the proposal of Sheikh Hasina for talks with the opposition as a mere “drama” and challenged her to prove that the prime minister is serious enough by making a categorical announcement on the restoration of a non-party and neutral caretaker government within the next 48 hours for conducting the next general election in the country.
“You make the announcement on the restoration of the non-party caretaker government within the next 48 hours, otherwise we will go for such a tough programme that will make you quit or flee in fear,” the opposition leader told the government and said: “In such a case, we will gather for our rally anywhere we like without seeking any permission from anybody.”
At this point, the former prime minister wanted to know from the crowd if they are ready to stage a sit-in at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel for next 24 hours to press home their demands, the crowds burst into jubilation and responded once again with one voice “yes, yes” raising their arms in the air to her delight.
Tens of thousands of people started gathering at Shapla Chattar in the heart of the commercial district of Motijheel from the capital city and its suburbs since mid-morning carrying multi-colored placards and festoons and chanting various pro-opposition and anti-government slogans. Some came beating drums and creating a carnival-like atmosphere at Motijheel.
Besides BNP, a large presence of the activists and supporters of the component parties of the 18-party alliance including Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir was noticed at the rally that stretched up to the Paltan Crossing on the west, Fakirapool Crossing on the north and Ittefaq Bhaban on the south. Both BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists also demanded release of their leaders at the rally.
BNP chairperson and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia termed the ruling Awami League as killer, corrupt and failed saying it has no right to remain in power.
The premier now is speaking in favour of humanity which is not suitable for her. She was above humanity when she enforced the non-stop agitation on the streets demanding holding of general election under a non-party caretaker government in 1996.
She asked Sheikh Hasina to recall what was done from 1991 to 1996 demanding general election under a non-party caretaker government.“Setting fire, killing people using gun powder inside a passenger bus and enforcing stick and oar movement were carried out in line with the directive of the then leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina,” she said. Awami League has failed to ensure people’s welfare during its almost four and a half year administration. The country’s overall economy including the readymade garment sector and real state business is on the verge of collapse due to the government’s failure, she alleged. No new gas, water and electricity connections were set up during the current term of the government. Even no educational institute was approved during the same period, she said.
Khaleda Zia, also chief of the 18-party alliance said the countrymen are being deprived of employment opportunity though there was the government commitment to ensure job for at least one member each family.
“The country’s judiciary and administration have been made partisan. Impartial judgment is not being ensured due to the interference of the premier office and concerned ministry,” she added.
Describing the Home Minister MK Alamgir as “a crazy person”, the former premier said the home minister was the sole agent of anti-liberation forces. The government should keep him away from the cabinet, he said.
She also claimed that several anti-liberation forces belong to the ruling Awami League. If BNP comes to power in the next poll, all the war criminals who committed crimes against humanity in 1971 will be brought to book for trial, she warned. Referring to the Savar tragedy, she said the country’s RMG sector has been destroyed and the ruling party influentials and armed cadres are responsible for this.
She blamed the government for providing special facilities to the owner as well as the Awami League’s youth front leader Sohel Rana in the name of taking him on remand.
Khaleda Zia said crack was sighted on the wall of the Rana Plaza five days before it collapsed. Despite this, owner of the building gathered RMG workers in the risky building to foil the opposition’s hartal programmes on the day.
She also accused the government of failure to ensure quick salvage operation in Rana Plaza.
Khaleda Zia criticised the premier Sheikh Hasina for call to take part in the parliament and said the government does not allow BNP to speak in the house and to hold rally on streets protesting its misdeeds and mismanagement.
Holding the government responsible for all religious riots including Ramu and Ukhiya, she said, “religion is personal but the state is for all. There is no room for militant in the country. The government is cooking up plane in the name of militant.”
Khaleda Zia said the government has sent to jail several leaders of BNP-led 18-party alliance in fabricated and motivated cases.
“Please, ensure their immediate release and withdraw false and motivated cases against them paving the way of holding dialogue over non-party caretaker government issue,” she appealed to the prime minister.
The former prime minister said the daily Amar Desh acting editor, Mahmudur Rahman was being tortured behind bar’s as he published all records of the government’s misdeeds and mismanagement through his newspaper.
“Please ensure immediate release of Mahmudur Rahman and withdraw the cases lodged against him,” she said and asked the government to withdraw the embargo imposed on the publication of the newspaper, for the sake of freedom of the press.
She asked government to refrain from setting up a coal based power plant at Rampal near Sunderban.
“If the coal based power-plant is set up there, we will incur huge loss financially and ecologically Sunderbans will be totally destroyed and with it will disappear all birds and animals.
About the activities of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), she said the elite force has been formed in a bid to curb criminal activities in the country.
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said Ayub Khan who was the president of Pakistan had withdrawn Agartala conspiracy case to reach a mutual compromise with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Our premier Sheikh Hasina can do the same by releasing the opposition party’s detained leaders.
BNP leadersM K Anwar, Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moeen Khan, Rafiqul Islam Mia and several alliance party leaders including colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, Andalif and others spoke at the rally with Sadeque Hossain Khoka convenor of the Dahaka city unit BNP in the chair.
-With The Independent input
