Khaleda Zia said Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad should resign to “save her skin”.
“This person, who identifies herself as the opposition leader, is now saying that she was forced to join the election,” said Khaleda, the former leader of the opposition.
Raushon Ershad, Jatiya Party presidium member and wife of party chief HM Ershad, recently announced that she doesn’t want to contest polls or be in politics in the future.“There is still time, resign and save your skin,” said Khaleda to Raushon. The BNP chief was addressing a meeting of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the National Press Club on Saturday.
Jatiya Party replaced the BNP as the main opposition in parliament after latter boycotted the 10th national election as its demand for a non-party poll-time government was ignored by the government led by Awami League.
“This Parliament does not represent the people,” said the former prime minister. “There is an opposition but it is subservient and loyal to the government. They have no option but to accept all government decisions.”
About the Jatiya Party chairman and former dictator HM Ershad, she said, “The head of this government (Sheikh Hasina) has selected man like this to be her special envoy. May I ask what his role was during the Liberation War?”
“This gentleman came from West Pakistan and went back there after spending his vacation here during our war. This is an example of Awami League’s ideals of the Liberation War.”
“We don’t set fire to buses with gunpowder, and thrash people to death like the Awami League,” claimed the BNP chief to point out that it did not fail to stir up an anti-government movement.
Numerous commuters in the capital fell prey to arson attacks during the back-to-back strikes and blockades by the BNP-led 19 Party alliance in the run up to the Jan 5 election.
Most of the advisors to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are corrupt, she said.
“All her advisors are corrupt men, with the exception of a few. Their only intention is to make money from projects.”
“These advisors once said it would be imprudent to impose transit fees. Does the government now think it prudent to burden people with charges?” she added.
Khaleda said the government has legitimised corruption by drafting a law to go for quick rental power plants without a tender process.
The judiciary too can’t act freely because of the government’s interference, she said while recalling her experience of being charged in two graft cases recently.
“I sat in court for three hours. I was not asked anything, and then out of nowhere I was indicted. This is wrong. It’s not acceptable.” – bdnews24.com
