Staff correspondent
Leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia on Sunday called for unity of all irrespective of political identities at this crucial juncture to safeguard democracy.
She said the massacre carried out at the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters was a continuation of the infringement on democracy two years back.
‘None of us is beyond risk. Democracy has been restored after two years. It is immaterial who is in power and who remains outside. Let us unite to save the country, the people and democracy,’ Khaleda Zia said while participating in a discussion in parliament on the obituary motion on the carnage at Pilkhana in the capital. ‘We, as a nation, are at risk…We need to work toge-ther to overcome the crisis.’
She said it was the responsibility of the government to initiate steps for building an understanding between the two sides – the ruling and opposition parties in parliament.
Referring to their time in jail before the general elections, the opposition leader said the country did not have democracy for two years. ‘None of us [Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia] was outside. Many of us were put in jail. We may have learned some lessons. We need to unite to save the country and the democracy.’ ‘The BDR carnage was not made to happen overnight. It was the continuation of a plot to keep the two parties engaged in quarrels and also infringement on democracy,’ Khaleda, said in her 20-minute speech.
She said those who wanted to weaken our army and border guards were behind the massacre at Pilkhana.
She demanded a fair investigation of the Fabruary 25-26 carnage and exemplary punishment to the killers and the behind-the-scenes instigators.
‘The real killers must not be spared. On the other hand, it must be ensured that no innocent persons are made victims,’ she said.
She called for immediate steps to protect the country’s sovereignty, maintain internal discipline and security.
She also demanded measures to help the army recover the losses and quick reorganisation of the BDR.
A total of 73 persons, including 56 army officers and 6 BDR men, were killed in the bloody incident and 72 army officers are still missing.
The speaker, Abdul Hamid, moved the obituary motion. Twenty-six lawmakers from the ruling and opposition benches participated in the discussion.
Courtesy of www.newagebd.com
