‘Khaleda’s column amounts to sedition’

Government MPs on Thursday maintained that Khaleda Zia committed a ‘crime’ that amounts to sedition as she called for foreign ‘intervention’ in Bangladesh.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia speaks at the opposition 18-party Alliance rally organised in front of the BNP Naya Paltan headquarters on Wednesday. Photo: asaduzzaman pramanik/ bdnews24.com/ Dhaka, Nov 28, 2012

Parliament exploded with criticism of the opposition leader who in a recent ‘Washington Times’ column called upon the US and western nations to come forward to save ‘democracy’.

Khaleda in her article run in Wednesday’s edition, said Bangladesh was slipping into a one-family rule instead of ‘democracy’ and sought US’s active intervention to prevent it.

The Awami League-led alliance lawmakers took turns to castigate the former Prime Minister at an unscheduled discussion.

AMA Muhith, Suranjit Sengupta, Tofail Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Matia Choudhury, Rashed Khan Menon, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Dipu Moni, Baby Maudud came down hard on the BNP Chairperson. They said she must apologise to the nation as she ‘openly sought foreign intervention’ in the article.

“Her asking for such foreign intervention proves that she (Khaleda) has lost ground under her feet,” Selim said. He alleged she talked against the nation in her efforts to smear the government.

“It is a deep conspiracy and is similar to sedition.” He also criticised her for her complaint to the foreigner over the caretaker system of Bangladesh.

“You told Barack Obama about caretaker system. Who will decide about it? Obama or the people of Bangladesh?”

The Awami League leader slated the opposition chief for remarks on Rapid Action Battalion and alleged she was trying to run a propaganda campaign against the elite force.

Suranjit said: “Khaleda is seeking help in much the same way the Pakistanis had sought US assistance in 1971.”

“Such an open letter by the opposition leader is a crime that amounts to sedition. She will have to face this crime,” he added.

He alleged that Khaleda had made the move to ‘cancel Bangladesh’s Generalised System of Preferences facility and duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to the US market.

Finance Minister Muhith said such article, which is against the interest of the country, was nothing but enmity.

“I cannot even think a citizen of this country can make such statement,” he added.

Tofail said: “If a person has the least sense of patriotism, they can never ask another country to take action against their own.”

He added Khaleda was trying to mislead US over the issue.

Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui demanded parliamentary action.

“She has proved that she has her masters abroad.”

Addressing Khaleda, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said,” You should keep mum. If you do so, the people will consider you intelligent.”

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said: “Democracy cannot be protected by seeking outside intervention. The opposition leader will have to apologise to the people for that.”

Talking about American stance during the nation’s independence war, reserved seat MP Baby Maudud asked,” Did she expect that the US would hand over the country to them by sending the Seventh Fleet like it did in ‘71?

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said,” Our friendly countries can only advice us on how our country will run or what will be our constitution.”

“No one has the right to fix what the law will be,” she added.

Awami League parliamentary whip ASM Firoz recommended expunging ‘some un-parliamentary statements’ after reserve seat MP Fazilatunnessa Indira gave her statement.