UNB, Dhaka :BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday night urged all, irrespective of their left or right political ideologies, to get united for the ‘restoration’ of democracy in the country.She came up with the call while speaking at a simple ceremony marking the joining of three left party leaders to her party. The BNP chief said, “We’ve called for forging a unity. We’ve now forgotten who belong to the right or left political ideologies. We only want democracy to be restored in the country. We’re following the path through which Ziaur Rahman had revived democracy.” She also urged the new generation to be vocal against the government’s misdeeds, corruption and repressive acts.Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree central committee’ founding general secretary Ataur Rahman Dally, its Rajshahi University unit ex-president Zohirul Islam Babu and former minister Moshiur Rahman Jadu Miah’s younger daughter and Bhasani Smrity Sangsad vice president Nancy Rahman joined the party by presenting bouquets to Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office around 10pm. Welcoming the trio, she called upon them to work sincerely for having democracy restored and the rule of law established in the country. “I welcome those progressive leaders joined BNP. We’ve benefited through your joining the party.” Coming down hard on the ruling party for what she said its misrule and repression on people, the BNP chief said all have to come forward to save the country from the hands of ‘demon party’ like Awami League.”They (AL) only know how to kill people, make them disappeared, garb their property and torture them. People and country have little value to them as their only intention to hang onto power by any means,” she observed.About the arrest of journalist Shafik Rehman, she said he was implicated in a ‘false’ case aggrieved by his write-ups against the government. Khaleda demanded the government immediately release Shafik Rehman, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, ETV chairman Abdus Salam and Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna.The BNP chief said, not only politicians, but also the people of all professions, including journalists, are now suffering from a sense of insecurity. “The government is arresting the progressive and conscious citizens as part of its plot to hang onto power by intellectually crippling the country.”She said, the first two phases of Union Parishad polls have once again proved that a fair national election is no way possible under the current government. “The Awami regime is illegal, and they must go. We want Hasina to quit power and arrange an election under a neutral administration.”BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, chairperson’s adviser Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and organising secretary, Shayma Obayed were, among others, present on the occasion.
