Khaleda says no alternative to mid-term elections

[Md Akmal]

London, May 16 (UNB) - Opposition leader Khaleda Zia has alleged that the incumbent Awami League government is the product of a conspiracy of ex-army chief Gen Moeenuddin and ex-caretaker government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed.

“Awami League shook hands with all illegal regimes of the past. Apart from supporting the Moeenuddin-Fakhruddin regime, this party had also joined the 1986 elections to give legitimacy to Ershad government,” she told a crowded party meeting at the Grand Room of luxurious Grosvenor House Hotel here on Sunday.

Khaleda, the chairperson of BNP, alleged that General Moeenuddin had reached an agreement with Awami League, arranged elections by a treacherous Election Commission and handed over power to them to save his own skin.

“Moeenuddin wanted to become (another) Zia but the reality is he will have to face trial if he returns home. And people will give him mass beating if he is found on the streets,” she said in a hard-hitting attack on the former army chief.

She said the Moeenuddin-Fakhruddin government was “thief” and both had sneaked out of the country to escape public wrath.

The BNP chief urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to build up united movement and remove the Awami League government “left behind by the Moeenuddin-Fakhruddin clique.”

Recalling the 1/11 episode, she said: “The Moeenuddin-Fakhruddin government was illegal. Fakhruddin was a puppet. Evil forces at home and abroad were with them.”

Khaleda said apparently their design was `minus two’, but basically it was `minus one’ to eliminate nationalist political force in Bangladesh and drive out the Zia family from the country.

“Barring a few collaborators in BNP, grassroots BNP workers took a correct stand. Consequently, Moeenuddin-Fakhruddin had to leave the country,” she told her followers.

She said: “We didn’t leave the country. We’ll stay in our homeland and continue our struggle to free the people.”

About the Awami League rule, the BNP chairperson said the present government has failed in all fronts.

Calling the present government as “servile” government, she said people today are totally frustrated, law and order has deteriorated, and parliament has become dysfunctional.

“Under such circumstances, there is no alternative to mid-term elections,” she said, adding that she would announce programs to this end on her return to the country.

Khaleda, who ruled the country as Prime Minister for 10 years, opposed giving corridor to India through Bangladesh in the name of transit.

The BNP chairperson is in London after 15 years. Her arrival in London generated enthusiasm among the BNP leaders and workers.

The BNP chapter of UK organized the workers’ meeting. Besides the party leaders and workers of UK, many came from other European countries to listen to their leader.

UK BNP’s acting president Mia Monirul Alam presided over the meeting conducted by its general secretary Barrister MA Salam.

BNP leaders Abdul Awal Mintoo, Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, Dr Osman Farruk and ex-UK BNP president Mahidur Rahman also addressed the meeting.

Khaleda came to London on Saturday night to see her ailing son Tarique Rahman.During her stay here for a week before leaving for USA, she will also meet some British politicians.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Actually, the caretaker government tried to kick out both women. However, the CG lost support due to its impractical approaches in tackling corruption. They even demolished illegal structures upon which people rely on for a living.

And that is how they failed to boot out the two women.

 

[Avisheik]

I wish both women were kicked out of politics. Both of had their chances (2 times each), however bangladesh's HDI or GDP did not change significantly. Both of them are worried more about their parties than Bangladesh.

 

[Al-zakir]

BNP or any other party is better alternative then Awami leauge. If BNP along with other nationalist element can bring some momentum on the street then Awami will be force to call mid-term election. Awami already whining about Begum Zia's visit in the west.

Awami leauge is very weak and it has has made more enemy then it can handle. Little push will throw them out to Ganga.

 

[ProsperBD]

I have seen no development of Bangladesh with these two parties, all these parties are crap I wish all of them had sense instead of fighting each other.
Earth to Bangladesh! you are destroying your country you fools.. This fighting will not stop unless we kick these two idiots out and Corruption will not go unless we take the two out.

 

[kobiraaz]

Begum Khaleda Zia is far better than Sheikh Hasina... it is her son who spoiled her. I think she has learnt her lesson from previous election !

 

[Arko]

Is that all she said over there??......... If that is so,

She mostly was talking about the caretaker government and the army. She carried on saying that AL actually shook hands with them both. But was in not that both Khaleda and Hasina were kept in prison by the then government who actually tried to deport them out of the country?

And she added,

Calling the present government as “servile” government, she said people today are totally frustrated, law and order has deteriorated, and parliament has become dysfunctional.

“Under such circumstances, there is no alternative to mid-term elections,” she said, adding that she would announce programs to this end on her return to the country.

To what extent have they deteriorated?? How good was it during her tenure??

This is the problem with BD politicians. They always blame each other. They never stop and take some time reviewing their own actions try to criticize them. I do not thing they even believe in Democracy. Every now and then, one party or the other would demand early retirement of the government. And they always come up with petty excuses like failure, deterioration in law and order, dysfunctional parliament etc. And about dysfunctional parliament, BNP, if it wants, can turn the whole scenario all around. AL is resorting to tis-for-tats strategy, they are doing whatever BNP did in its tenure; which eventually is leading to this dysfunctional parliament. They both are to be blamed; AL went for Ershad, but what about BNP???....are those JAMAT people saints??? Is this really worth it? Can BNP guarantee that there won't be worse a scenario if it ever comes to power??

These two women are growing old but their reasoning capability is getting worse day by day. When will we have a leader who did not blame others and actually tried to do something in the first place.