Anisul Islam Noor :
Amidst heightened tension before the verdict on Zia Orphanage graft case, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Saturday outlined the party’s plan of action at the party’s national executive committee at a meeting at a local hotel in case the court sentenced her to jail in the run up to national election. She laid out six points to join the polls.
She urged the party leaders to face bad days together and said the Awami League risked the bigger danger as the people are with BNP and the administration and armed forces are watching every move of the government.
Whatever the ruling party now feel; one thing is sure the nation is at the bottom of frustration and people want a free, fair election. They will not tolerate deception of any kind any more.
Khaleda Zia also called on her party men to remain united even during her absence and to face the situation peacefully. Less than a week before a trial court is set to deliver its verdict on February 8, the former prime minister decried massive arrest of her party men ahead of the verdict widely believe to be convicting her in the case. Party leaders denounced the case as politically motivated one to knock her out of election race and give a fatal blow to the party’s election preparation.
Around 450 party leaders, including standing committee members, executive committee members, vice-chairmen, chairperson’s advisers and presidents and secretaries of the party’s various front organizations attended the meeting. Many remained absent to avert arrest.
Khaleda Zia said there is no rule of law in the country; it is one party rule in which
the society is breaking apart. The situation is so desperate that the Chief Justice has to leave the country for a verdict that goes against the government. Quoting a Supreme Court observation, she alleged the lower courts “are under the grip of the government. They cannot function freely and independently.”
She said statements of the ruling party leaders and workers make clear the court verdict would go against her. But she is not afraid; the people will resist injustice, she said. The BNP chairperson asked the party men to remain united.
She said, “They [(ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL)] want to keep the BNP out of the elections,” and the cases have been lined up accordingly. BNP leaders and workers vowed to protect her saying, “we will not let you go to jail.”
She warned the party men to resist repression and torture and remain united in the face of attempts to split the party again. She said “there will be no space in the party for those who will betray and put their feet in two boats.
She said no one would be able to intimidate her and separate her from the party.
Her son was subjected to inhuman torture and still recovering. Even so, she is not
be afraid of intimidation, she said.
She said people want to get rid of misrule of government, repression and imprisonments; change will come when this government will falter away. She said BNP wants change through democratic way. There is no other way but a credible election to bring about this change.
Reiterating her demand for holding the next election under a ” non-party neutral poll-time” government, the former prime minister said, “environment must be ensured so that all political parties can take part in the election and every one can turn up at the polling stations to vote. Troops must be deployed to maintain law and order. Only then a fair poll is possible,” she said.
She further demanded no EVM should be used in the polls and parliament must be dissolved before the polls. She said people want to see democracy, freedom of press, and peace effectively functioning in the country. There should be no crossfire; no forced disappearance and specter of fear in public life.
“Let’s see how far they (AL) can go. Allah will pull the stings in due time,” said Khaleda.
Calling upon her political rival AL to shun hatred, vengeance, killing and violence, Khaleda said, “Give elections through which the people will freely vote their representatives; whoever they want in power.”
The former prime called for building national consensus to take the country forward. She said, “We don’t believe in vendetta. We will also forgive those who are torturing us today and will take them on board.
Amidst heightened tension before the verdict on Zia Orphanage graft case, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Saturday outlined the party’s plan of action at the party’s national executive committee at a meeting at a local hotel in case the court sentenced her to jail in the run up to national election. She laid out six points to join the polls.
She urged the party leaders to face bad days together and said the Awami League risked the bigger danger as the people are with BNP and the administration and armed forces are watching every move of the government.
Whatever the ruling party now feel; one thing is sure the nation is at the bottom of frustration and people want a free, fair election. They will not tolerate deception of any kind any more.
Khaleda Zia also called on her party men to remain united even during her absence and to face the situation peacefully. Less than a week before a trial court is set to deliver its verdict on February 8, the former prime minister decried massive arrest of her party men ahead of the verdict widely believe to be convicting her in the case. Party leaders denounced the case as politically motivated one to knock her out of election race and give a fatal blow to the party’s election preparation.
Around 450 party leaders, including standing committee members, executive committee members, vice-chairmen, chairperson’s advisers and presidents and secretaries of the party’s various front organizations attended the meeting. Many remained absent to avert arrest.
Khaleda Zia said there is no rule of law in the country; it is one party rule in which
the society is breaking apart. The situation is so desperate that the Chief Justice has to leave the country for a verdict that goes against the government. Quoting a Supreme Court observation, she alleged the lower courts “are under the grip of the government. They cannot function freely and independently.”
She said statements of the ruling party leaders and workers make clear the court verdict would go against her. But she is not afraid; the people will resist injustice, she said. The BNP chairperson asked the party men to remain united.
She said, “They [(ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL)] want to keep the BNP out of the elections,” and the cases have been lined up accordingly. BNP leaders and workers vowed to protect her saying, “we will not let you go to jail.”
She warned the party men to resist repression and torture and remain united in the face of attempts to split the party again. She said “there will be no space in the party for those who will betray and put their feet in two boats.
She said no one would be able to intimidate her and separate her from the party.
Her son was subjected to inhuman torture and still recovering. Even so, she is not
be afraid of intimidation, she said.
She said people want to get rid of misrule of government, repression and imprisonments; change will come when this government will falter away. She said BNP wants change through democratic way. There is no other way but a credible election to bring about this change.
Reiterating her demand for holding the next election under a ” non-party neutral poll-time” government, the former prime minister said, “environment must be ensured so that all political parties can take part in the election and every one can turn up at the polling stations to vote. Troops must be deployed to maintain law and order. Only then a fair poll is possible,” she said.
She further demanded no EVM should be used in the polls and parliament must be dissolved before the polls. She said people want to see democracy, freedom of press, and peace effectively functioning in the country. There should be no crossfire; no forced disappearance and specter of fear in public life.
“Let’s see how far they (AL) can go. Allah will pull the stings in due time,” said Khaleda.
Calling upon her political rival AL to shun hatred, vengeance, killing and violence, Khaleda said, “Give elections through which the people will freely vote their representatives; whoever they want in power.”
The former prime called for building national consensus to take the country forward. She said, “We don’t believe in vendetta. We will also forgive those who are torturing us today and will take them on board.
