Awami League on Wednesday trashed BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s claim that 300 people were killed in the joint forces’ operation saying that no one was killed or faced forced disappearance.
“Our media is on guard. It cannot be that several hundreds people have been killed but media could trace anything. Khaleda Zia delivered blatant lies convening a press conference as she thinks that the media is inept,” Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said.
Matia said this while addressing a press conference arranged at Awami League president’s political office to give party’s formal reaction to Khaleda Zia’s Tuesday’s speech.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Khaleda claimed that around 300 members of opposition 19-party alliance have either been killed or made disappeared in last one month, accusing the government of turning the law enforcement agencies into “killer forces”.
Addressing the press conference, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said that no killing or forced disappearance took place in the country saying law enforcing agencies arrested people and brought them to book. “Nothing happened except that. Where she got such information from?”
Nasim went on: “The joint forces took steps as per the law. Sometimes it is needed to take stern action to establish peace. Now peace prevails in the country for Prime Minister’s Sheikh Hasina’s able leadership.”
The Awami League leader came down hard on former premier Khaleda Zia for questioning foreigners’ recognition’s of the present government.
“We can’t imagine a former premier can say this. Before the election, Khaleda said no one will recognise the government. But there is no country in the globe, except one, that did not recognize this regime. They all recognized this government as voting took place properly,” he told journalists.
Mentioning Khaleda Zia’s speech as nothing but the repetition of old talks, Nasim, also the presidium member, said, “The tone of Khaleda Zia’s speech gave an impression that a defeated commander in the battle was screaming.”
In reply to a question about Khaleda Zia’s allegation that the Awami League proposed for seat-sharing in parliament, Nasim said, “Question doesn’t arrive of making such a proposal. She (Khaleda) is the champion of falsehood. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina only proposed them to join the interim government.”
About Khaleda’s remarks for movement after streamlining her party, the Awami league leader said, “We’re giving her five years’ time to streamline her party.”
Awami League leaders Nuh ul Alam Lenin, Mahbub ul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni, Dr Hasan Mahmud, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapon and AFM Bahauddin Nasim were, among others, present at the press conference.
