Staff Reporter :BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia again expressed her determination to continue the ongoing movement until a meaningful goal is reached.In a statement on Thursday, she said that she would not bow down to any pressure and intimidation. “The ongoing movement will be continued until it reaches its desired goal. Being frightened, the government is now trying hard to isolate me from the people by creating pressure and unsafe atmosphere. I am ready to face any consequence,” she said.Signed by BNP Vice-Chairman Selima Rahman, the party Chief in the statement claimed that their ongoing movement is peaceful and it aimed at restoring democracy in the country through holding a free, fair and inclusive election. “We have called the movement as per aspirations of the people and the movement will continue until it yields a logical outcome,” she said. She thanked the leaders and workers of her party and the alliance partners for continuing the movement despite killing, torture and detention. She called upon the countrymen to participate in the movement.She also called upon the international community and democratic countries to pay heed to the prevailing political situation in Bangladesh. “We have enforced the movement not to go to the power, but to uphold democracy, ensure people’s fundamental and human rights, justice and rule of law,” she said drawing the attention of the international community. Mentioning that Awami League had killed people by torching bus with gunpowder, and with oars and sticks in the past in the name of movement, the BNP Chief alleged that it (Awami League) is still brutally killing the innocent people. The AL men also danced on dead bodies after killing the people with oars, she added. “The government is trying to control the ongoing movement putting the blame on the BNP and allies and spreading propaganda. Such evil politics would be failed, as the people are not so foolish,” she said. Claiming that their movement is peaceful, Khaleda Zia said, “I want to say clearly that we don’t do destructive politics and kill people. We have no link to the politics of killing and dead bodies. We won’t pursue such heinous and brutal politics either.”About hartal-blockade during the SSC examinations, she said, the Awami League also compelled to defer SSC examinations up to three months. She alleged that the government has demonstrated a cruel attitude to her before she overcame the shock she received at the death of her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko. About the key demand of the 20-party alliance, the BNP Chief said, “We have been calling upon the government for the last one year to hold a dialogue to create a congenial atmosphere for an inclusive election. But the government did not pay any attention. Rather, the government has intensified its repression on the leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance to cling to power.”
