Reiterating her demand for a fresh national election under a non-party administration, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday warned that if the government makes delay in doing so, the situation may spin out of control anytime. “There’s still time…hold a fresh election under a non-party caretaker government. If you buy much time in doing so, the situation may go out of control of all,” she told a protest rally of lawyers. Being barred by the police from holding its protest rally on the Supreme Court premises, Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club protesting police obstruction. Khaleda who was scheduled to address the lawyers’ programme on the Supreme Court premises, she later went to Jatiya Press Club at 12.15 pm and join the protest rally. Criticising the government for obstructing BNP’s rally on Thursday and also today (Saturday), Khaleda asked the government not to do excesses as it would not bring anything good for it. “The current illegal regime has lost the ground beneath its feet and got isolated. So, they’re not allowing holding our peaceful programme. The government is sticking to office with the force of arms and depending on police and Rab,” the BNP chief said. Accusing the government of using Rab for killing, abducting and making opposition leaders and activists and making them disappeared, she warned that the current Prime Minister must face trial for this one day. Khaleda also renewed her demand for disbanding Rab saying this force is now realising ransom, killing people and making them disappeared. “Rab is now a name of horror to the country’s people.” The BNP chairperson lamented that the country’s image has badly being dented across the globe for continuing killing, abduction and forced disappearance. Earlier in the day, police barred the lawyers from entering the Supreme Court (SC) premises to hold their rally called protesting the killing of Narayanganj lawyer Chandan Sarker and six other people after their abductions last month. Police blocked the lawyers’ way into the Supreme Court premises by locking its three gates. To make the programme a success by any means, the lawyers thronged the Mazar Gate in the court area in the morning. Police also arrested 13 lawyers as they tried to bring out a procession in the area. On Friday night, police dismantled a podium the lawyers erected to hold the rally.– UNB, Dhaka.
