A senior Awami League leader has said the BNP should wait for five years after its Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday called for immediate talks to pave the way for a fresh parliamentary election.
“Wait for five years. The election will be held under Sheikh Hasina as per the Constitution. Take part in that election,” said Presidium member Mohammad Nasim at a press conference on Wednesday.Khaleda Zia had on Tuesday also alleged the 260 leaders and activists of her party-led alliance had disappeared or had been killed since before and after the Jan 5 polls.
But Nasim, who is also the health minister, pointed to her silence about those who died of burns during the BNP-led alliance’s shutdown and blockade before the Jan 5 polls
The ruling party leader said Khaleda claimed her party activists had been killed when over 200 people had been burnt or burnt to death during shutdowns and blockades enforced by her party and its allies.
“Sometimes power should be exercised for peace, and that is what we have done,” Nasim said about the joint forces’ drive in parts of the country.
About Khaleda’s allegation about killings and disappearances, he said, “No killing or enforced disappearance has taken place. Law enforcers have arrested terrorists.”
Two verdicts in the Chittagong arms haul cases described as ‘mysterious’ Khaleda’s role after the seizure of a huge quantity of arms on April 2, 2004, when she was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
He said her silence on this count in her Tuesday press conference indicated her acceptance of the court’s observation.
“Khaleda Zia should also be tried over the arms haul. I want that law enforcement agencies to see whether she can be tried.”
Awami League Presidium members Nuh-Ul-Alam Lenin, Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, among others, were present at the press conference held at the party’s Dhanmandi office.-bdnews24.com
