BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday said the opposition’s door for
dialogue is still open although the government has closed its door by
tagging conditions.
“We’re still waiting for an initiative to start a secretary
general-level dialogue between the two parties as per the proposal of
the business community to resolve the ongoing political crisis,” she
said.
The BNP chairperson said this in her video address to a party rally at
Suhrawardy Udyan, organised by Dhaka city unit BNP, marking the
party’s ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’.
Voicing her optimism about dialogue, Khaleda hoped that the government
will return to the path of discussions as BNP has long been insisting
on it despite being in the opposition in the interest of the country.
About the Oct-26 telephone conversation with Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, Khaleda Zia alleged, “Our conversations were secretly recorded
and then circulated at government initiatives.”
“I was not informed about this recording and even no permission was
taken either from me before making it public. It’s absolutely
unethical and illegal,” Khaleda said adding that this has proved that
the government is not at all sincere about dialogue and peaceful
solution to the political crisis.
The former premier also alleged that while inviting her for dialogue
through telephone Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made harsh comments
blaming her for various issues. “I gave clear replies to her every
allegation.”
Questioning the Prime Minister’s sincerity for talks, Khaleda said the
Prime Minister could not have talked in such a way if she had the
goodwill for holding a dialogue.
The BNP chief said she repeatedly urged Hasina to talk about the
current political issues forgetting about the past bitterness. “I also
told her that we would work jointly in the future. But it was
unfortunate that as if she had phoned me for blaming only,” she added.
The BNP chief claimed that she agreed to sit for talks any time after
October 29 as her party wanted to have a peaceful solution to the
political deadlock.
Describing the premier’s offer for dialogue as conditional, Khaleda
said, “She (Hasina) tagged conditions that the dialogue must be held
on October 28 and the agitation programme must be withdrawn. She has
shut the path of peaceful solution by imposing the conditions.”
Referring to her meeting with the 50-member business delegation, she
said the business leaders offered her for initiating a dialogue at
secretary general level and she gave in to it.
But, Khaleda alleged, the Prime Minister again skipped the path of
discussions through giving another condition that no dialogue would be
held if the opposition did not withdraw its hartal programme the
following day.
In her 12-minute video address, the opposition leader elaborately
described the country’s latest political condition, current political,
crisis, government’s role in resolving the problem, the next election,
attack on minorities and her party’s position about the non-party
polls-time government.
About the polls-time government, she said the government has announced
to forma an election-time government with its 14-pary alliance
partners in the name of all-party administration as the Prime Minister
is stick to her stance on holding the election by staying in office.
“Under the circumstances, I urge people to carry out the movement in a
peaceful manner against the government’s move,” the BNP chief told her
audience.
Khaleda accused the government of politicising all state machineries,
including civil administration, police administration and the Election
Commission, over the next general election.
“As per the constitution, less than 90 days are left for the election.
But the government is illegally taking policy decisions at this time.
Public money and resources are being used for conducting party
campaign. They are using the administration, police, Rab and BGB
members like party cadres against the opposition,” she said.
Claiming that around 90 percent people of the country are in favour of
holding the next election under a non-party caretaker government, the
opposition leader said the government created the present crisis
unilaterally abolishing the caretaker system from the constitution.
Reiterating her party’s stance for holding the election under a
non-party regime, Khaleda said a level-playing field will not be
created and a free fair and neutral election will not be possible if
the present crisis it is not resolved.
She criticised the government for resorting to repressive acts for
subduing the opposition leaders and activists and called upon it to
shun the path of repression and oppression.
Khaleda alleged that the ruling party has resorted to various evil
activities to misled people about the opposition’s movement. “We’ve
earlier clearly stated our position about religious immoralities.
Awami League is making various evil efforts to disrupt the security of
the minority communities.”
The former Prime Minister urged the country’s people, including the
opposition leaders and activists, to ensure overall security of all
the religious communities — their lives, dignity, property and prayers
and worship places.
“Face together if there is any instigation anywhere by any body. Keep
it in mind that the enemies are active. It’s time for forging a
national unity, not any division,” she added.
Chaired by Dhaka city unit BNP convener Sadeque Hossain Khoka, the
rally was addressed, among others, by BNP standing committee members
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar, Rafiqul Islam
Miah, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, LDP president Oli Ahmed, BNP
chairperson’s adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu, BNP joint secretaries general
Amanullah Aman and Barkatullah Bulu. – UNB
