Govt killing people through violence: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday asked the people to join the opposition’s movement to oust the present government alleging that it was on a spree to ‘kill people’ across the country.

“The present government is destroying the country through theft, corruption and loot. They are on a rampage and killing people,” she said while addressing a street rally at Brahmanbaria’s tornado-hit Chinair village in the afternoon.

Urging everyone to join the movement to ‘overthrow’ this government, she said the Awami League-led government was ‘deaf and blind’. “They are walking in the middle of the road... It would have left office if it had any shame. Now the time has come to say goodbye to them.”

“For that, only words will not work...preparations must be on to realise it through action,” she added.

The opposition chief went to Brahmanbaria earlier in the day and visited tornado-hit Urshiara at Sultanpur and Jarulata village under Basudev Union. She spoke and conveyed her condolences to the victim families.

The rally was held at Chinair where Khaleda Zia also distributed money, rice and cloths among the victims. Earlier in the day, she had reached the Brahmanbaria Circuit House at 3pm.

The tornado that hit Brahmanbaria on Mar 22 claimed 34 lives and left over 300 people injured. More than 500 homes and establishments were destroyed in the storm.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had also visited the affected area on Mar 25 and distributed relief.

At the rally, Khaleda alleged, “The government did not provide the victims enough relief. The relief distribution was just a stunt.”

She demanded immediate steps taken to provide the tornado-hit areas sufficient relief materials, support to build homes, and money and credit to the farmers to recover their losses.

Talking about the country’s present situation, she said, “The country is going through a tough time. There is no security for the people. Everyone including the children and elderly are being tortured. The government is carrying out mass killings across the country.”

“No one of any religion is safe under the present government. Police harasses any man with a beard and wearing a prayer cap. The Hindus-Buddhists-Christians are tortured alike and their places of worship are vandalised.”

She said the Awami League-led Grand Alliance government broke its electoral pledges. “Prices of rice have not decreased in the last four years. The farmers did not get the right price for the paddy they produced.”

Khaleda also criticised the police raids in Chapainawabganj and Sirajganj on Friday. “Police are shooting and killing people. People from all strata of society have protested against this, but they were chased away.”

“They [the government] don’t have any shame. If they had any, they would have stepped down from power.”

District BNP unit President and central BNP Vice Chairman Harun Al Rashid presided over the rally.

The BNP chief later started for Dhaka in the evening.