BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday said the ongoing countrywide blockade programme would continue until the next announcement is made.
“The government has closed all the roads to protests…Being forced we called the peaceful blockade programme across the country. The programme is going on and it will continue until the next announcement is made,” she said while addressing a crowded press conference at her Gulshan office hours after police withdrew its barricades from near her office gate.She addressed the press after a meeting with the available members of the standing committee and senior party leaders.
Khaleda Zia described the present situation as a political crisis and called for resolving it politically. “It is not a matter of law and order but political. It has to be resolved politically,” she said.
She reiterated her call to return the right to franchise and take initiative immediately to hold an inclusive and acceptable poll.
Khaleda Zia accused the ruling Awami League of carrying out all the acts of violence, vandalism and sabotage.
“They (AL) have done it in the past like setting fire to buses by sprinkling gunpowder. They introduced the evil politics to kill people and police by carrying out bombing, arsons and vandalism with oars and poles,” she said.
The BNP chairperson called upon the ruling party to shun the path of violence, acts of sabotage and repression.
“Please stop the repression and mass arrest, release the arrested leaders. Withdraw all the restriction and barriers to democracy and constitutional rights and politics by restoring normalcy and peace and stopping the politics of provocation, conspiracy and evil,” she said.
Referring to the withdrawal of police from in front of her office entrance, she said, “We welcome it if the government done so on its own that means good sense has prevailed upon the government,” she added.
Responding to a question that whether she called the blockade programme because of pressure from the journalists, Khaleda said it was not correct it was the government which had forced her to call the blockade.
Asked whether the 20-party alliance would hold any mass rally in Dhaka, she said the blockade programme will continue until the demands are not fulfilled but if any supplementary programme is announced it would be observed.
Asked if the BNP chairperson would leave her office after withdrawal the confinement, she said it is her office and she monitors the party activities from here.
“I will go to wherever I want. If it proves possible then I will be able to know that the government really withdrawn the confinement.”
On another question, the former premier claimed that her party does not believe in politics of violence rather it is AL which believes in politics of violence.
“I firmly believe they are shifting the blame on us after doing all the acts of sabotage…They are widening the way for carrying out repression and arrest opponents,” she added.
She demanded the release of 20-party leaders including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and stoppage of harassment of opposition leaders and activists.
Senior BNP leaders including Dr RA Ghani, ASM Hannan Shah, Barrister Jamir Udidn Sircar, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rhaman and Selima Rahman, were present at the press conference. – Staff Reporter
